Prepare a report critically evaluating the use of maps during the COVID-19 c

evaluation should address the following questions:
 In general, what is the power of GIS and mapping for a) monitoring an international health crisis, b) communicating risk information?
 What are the limitations of GIS and mapping in this context?
 How have maps been used for pandemics in the past, with what strengths/weaknesses?
 How is the map purpose and intended audience reflected in GIS maps of the current
crisis?
 What are the effects of different map design elements and cartographer choices (e.g.
colours, layouts, formats, text included etc) for presenting COVID-19 risk information? E.g. do the colour choices in one particular map suggest something different compared to a similar map from a different source with different colours?
 What is the significance of who the map-maker and data source are?
 What is the significance of where the map is located (e.g. on a government website
versus social media versus a paper map on a wall etc)?
 Do you have any thoughts on who the maps are representing/privileging, and who they
are not or whose views may be excluded? (e.g. if a map is made by a Western country does it relate to other country-contexts? If the information/advice is more appropriate for people with a level of assumed wealth, how does this assist/represent the economically poor?)
 If you can discern what mapping techniques or approaches have been used in maps, can you provide any discussion on the accuracy of results and value of such analyses?

Structure:
Introduction – including brief background to the crisis, the power/use of
maps, and your report objectives/aims
Background/brief literature review – on GIS and mapping for crisis and risk communication, strengths and weaknesses of maps, implications etc – rather than a literature review of just pandemics
Brief methods – how and where you sourced maps –one short paragraph will suffice
Results – presentation and description of selected maps
Critical discussion – this should be the bulk of the report, including your comparative analysis, evaluation of maps and their implications, and any future recommendations (for mapping / COVID-19 risk communication / research). Relate any new insights you have uncovered to the existing literature and understandings of GIS and mapping for crises and/or pandemics.
Conclusions – providing a clear synthesis of arguments and evaluation of maps. This is more than just a summary.
References – not included in word count

Suggested Maps:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/coronavirus-world-map-which-countries-have-the-most-cases-and-deaths

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2020/03/covid-19-charts-maps-200310163714493.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51768274

https://who.sprinklr.com