In celebration of the 2026 Love Data week, the Urban Studies Program and the University Library System at Pitt organized an original map creation competition. The competition was open to all members of the Pitt community and aimed to display the broad range of research at Pitt captured in maps. The judging panel selected the maps that best represented the goals of the competition.

You can explore the dynamic intersection of information and geography in the exhibit revealing how charts, themes, and interactive layers transform raw numbers into compelling stories, guiding visitors through various themes and trends. Data isn't just seen, it's experienced. This exhibit showcases how digital tools transform static maps into dynamic narratives, allowing you to filter, zoom, and uncover layers of insight into everything from, e.g. floods impact and disaster management, tracking of the Earth crust’s movement, prediction of total annual snowfall using statistical methods, the connection between urban transformation, land use, and social inequality, and many more.

You can see the display at the West Wall on the second floor of Hillman Library. We hope that you will enjoy it!

Susan Lucas, Teaching Assistant Professor, Urban Studies Program, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Boris Michev, GIS and Urban Studies Librarian, University Library System, University of Pittsburgh