The goal of this site is to investigate and show how geobrowsers can be used for thematic mapping.

A thematic map displays the spatial pattern of a social or physical phenomenon, such as population density, life expectancy or climate change. Thematic mapping has a long history in cartography, but the new geobrowsers tend to have a stronger focus on detailed satellite imagery and general-reference maps than on more abstract data sources.

Due to their huge public interest and relative accessibility, geobrowsers are potentially capable of bringing thematic maps or visualizations to a wider audience.

You'll find more information on the thematic mapping blog.

Research paper: Using KML for Thematic Mapping (PDF, 2.3 MB)