Maps and Web-based Data - Participatory Mapping: New Data, New Cartography - page 71

The map proposed by Alex Tingle (Table 4.1, map no. 1)
shows the outline of the Earth's surface subject to sea level
rise. The way the map was created emphasizes the notion of
subjectivity; the author obtained the data from the NASA
website, then reprogrammed it to create his application.
Nevertheless, many technical shortcomings persist and are
explained in his blog, such as the neglect of tides or
protection dikes for some countries. Furthermore, Alex
Tingle has made a number of technical choices, which he
explicitly states and which make his map unique compared
to what other programmers might have produced from the
same datasets.

Alex Tingle explains that his main aim is to raise
awareness about global warming; however, “showing too
much” such as by correcting all the technical errors could
make him sound alarmist:

There are a number of significant sources of
inaccuracy. All of these inaccuracies are
optimistic - correcting the inaccuracy would
make the consequences of sea level rise look
worse. I've made a conscious effort to avoid ad hoc
corrections for these effects. If these maps have a
purpose, it is to encourage the general public to
consider the consequences of global warming. If I
were to make corrections that make more bits of
the map shaded blue, then I would run the risk of
having the whole thing discredited as alarmist. 21
Alex Tingle, blog post, May 18, 2006

The cartographer recognizes the technical limitations of
his map which, for him, are not a problem once they are
stated

explicitly. The limitations do not question the

21 See: http://blog.firetree.net/2006/05/18/more-about-flood-map.