Maps, CartoDB and Open Source: Interview with Andrew Hill

By Muthukumar Kumar







CartoDB is the next generation location intelligence and data visualization engine that enables the transformation of location data into insights. CartoDB is building an ecosystem that gives universally accessible technology to connect and map data, create data-driven customized visualizations, and develop location-based data applications.




Talking Maps and Open Source with Andrew Hill
CartoDB has been doing some great work lately, be it their Geoawesome Twitter visualizations of world cups, elections or some cool traffic flow maps. There are an interesting Geo startup that works with Open Source a lot, does a lot of community outreach and mapping. We had the pleasure of talking to Andrew Hill, their Chief Scientist Officer about maps, CartoDB and open source and where they are headed next. Read on!

Open Source is at the heart of what CartoDB does, Was it the plan from day one?
Yes, it was CartoDB’s was created to bring location data intelligence to the masses by democratizing access to maps and location data and Open Source provides us the method to built the best software in order to reach our vision.

You had an interesting question “What are the limitations of what we call a map” in your interview to GeoHipster. Many companies have been pushing the envelope there, be it Twitter maps or visualization wearable tech data. What is your vision for maps?

Maps are one of many tools in the CartoDB technology, albeit the most obvious one. In reality, CartoDB has tools for geospatial analysis, geo-enabled data pipelines, real-time resampling, and of course design and rendering. We have built a great stack to create maps some of the time while leveraging geospatial capabilities all the time. This puts us in a good position to move and grow with the ever changing definition of the “map”.

We have built the optimal stack to create maps some of the time while leveraging geospatial capabilities all the time. This puts us in a good position to move and grow with the ever changing definition of the “map”.

You have a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Javier has a degree in Agricultural Engineering.Are interdisciplinary teams the norm at your office?


We came from a background where the most exciting ideas came from the most unexpected places. Mixing people that have years of experience on a topic with smart people that have never thought about the topic before often leads to sparks. Javier, Sergio, the rest of those early guys learned to thrive on those sparks.



Spatial sciences have benefited a lot from “outsider perspectives”. How would you define “Geospatial”? Moving forward do you think we are going to see greater integration with computer science and maps?

I’m 100% certain that the inflow of “geospatial” into computer science is well underway. Geospatial is just the dimension of data that defines location. In reality, so much of the data we are producing already is, or with a little bit of work could be, geospatial. Now more than every before, organizations and individuals are realizing the power and possibility hidden in the geospatial dimension of their data.

Now more than every before, organizations and individuals are realizing the power and possibility hidden in the geospatial dimension of their data.

Much of the work at CartoDB has been about rewriting maps & visualizations with JavaScript. How much is going to change now that WebAssembly is in the works?

Well, any advance on how the web works is going to have a great impact on the way we create and deliver visualizations. A faster web experience will mean a better product and also more possibilities. It is very exciting to see the web finally taking serious care of performance at this level.

Initiatives like Map Academy are going to definitely going to be a help when it comes to getting more people to appreciate the potential of location data. Are we going to see more courses at the Map Academy? How can the Open Source community can help with it?

Absolutely! As our tools and team grow in lockstep, so will our need to create easy ways for people to learn advanced mapping techniques. Take SQL for example, one of the most powerful ways to bend data at will, the web lacks many good learning tools for SQL. We have recently released our introductory class and will continue to expand upon it very actively. That type of lesson particularly excites us because the people that learn those skills can use them in CartoDB but also in tools far beyond our project.



You are an assistant professor at NYU, whats your advice for geo grads?
Learn how to code… at least a little.

You guys do some great work (and geoawesome visualizations) and attract some great talent. How do keep being so awesome? 

I’ll share our secret. When you sit across from someone for a conversation, if you get excited to learn what is inside their head, hire them. Our team is full of those people. It makes it exciting to come to work, excited to talk about the future, and excited to build what we are passionate about.



Thanks for letting us in on the secret. What do you usual look for in people that you want to hire? A “Secret guide into the CartoDB mindset”, if you may...

A lot of times the problems we are trying to solve are at the edge of what defines our tool currently. So we are always drawing people from areas you wouldn’t necessarily expect. But yes, developing awesome things in open source catches our attention for sure! We also have a soft spot for people that have an eye for design in their work and people that engage the community in exciting ways.

Where do you see CartoDB in the next few years? Your vision for 2020!
We are moving fast in a few clear directions. In the first couple years of our existence, we focused on two things. First, building the easiest map editing tool on the web. And second, building a powerful geospatial backend that would solve an existing technical challenge for many businesses. Now we are moving fast to take both of those things to the next level. More client side, more data, more speed, more beauty. At the same time though, one of our biggest challenges is to educate the world on the power and value of geospatial data. We want to help them mobilize their own data to gain insights, make better decisions, and improve the things they are already doing.

We loved the twitter maps during the football world cup and the Indian elections. Do you think real-time twitter map feature is going to be available to the public soon?

Maybe, no plans right now, but we are always looking for ways to make our technology more accessible.

Madrid and New York, where are you headed next?
That’s a good question, but not one we can answer quite yet.

About Andrew Hill

Andrew Hill is CartoDB’s Chief Science Officer, where he studies new methods for making maps in the CartoDB ecosystem. Andrew has his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder, studying under Robert Guralnick. During his time at Boulder, Andrew led research on how automated data pipelines could be used to generate insights for biodiversity sciences. His work merged the natural sciences with data science and engineering.At CartoDB, Andrew leads a team of scientists, educators, and mappers that explore and develop new cartographic and GIS methods for CartoDB users. He has also been known to make far-out maps and instigate lively debates. Outside of CartoDB, Andrew is also an Assistant Professor, a board member of a citizen science non-profit, and an external advisor to a graduate program for mapping and cartography.

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