This multifaceted database from Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) offers best-available human census data in a newly revised, straightforward format. Designed "to facilitate the use of population data in interdisciplinary research," the Gridded Population of the World (GPW) database marks a breakthrough in data format (and therefore...

Recently, the US Census Bureau posted new data from the 2000 census and from the 1996 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation. On April 2, the Bureau announced that the 2000 Census showed the largest increase ever in the US population over a ten-year period, 32.7 million. "The previous record increase between decennial censuses, the 28.0 million jump between 1950 and 1960, occurred...

The Atlas of Canada Web site is maintained by the governmental Natural Resources Canada Agency. This excellent interactive mapping and informational device lets users choose from dozens of topics to map such as geology, hydrology, land cover, glaciers, wetlands, natural hazards, and sea ice, as well as several others such as people and society, economic, health, and more. Once a map loads, users...

The world's megacities, such as Lagos in Nigeria and Bengaluru in India, have populations of well over ten million people, but what does that look like in comparison to other, possibly more familiar areas? Visual journalist Matt Daniels has created this engaging digital essay addressing this topic for The Pudding, an online magazine that features visual essays and data visualizations. In this...