Healthcare GIS Learns to Lie with Maps

Since the COVID-19 lock down began in earnest roughly five weeks ago, healthcare authorities and the news media have repeatedly failed to help society protect itself.

News has been grim. Indeed, you would think there is nothing else going on in the world. The statistics continually made available paint a picture of almost certain doom. All of the social media realms wallow in it, further perpetuating the surrounding negativity, hyping that which is not hype-worthy, based on incomplete or poorly presented information.

Consequently, I contend that what we are reading everywhere most certainly qualifies as “fake news.”

Organizations involved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to The New York Times to Google to Johns Hopkins are leveraging lessons from the same manual by Mark Monmonier, “How to Lie with Maps”.

The spatial data community should be most ashamed of itself for enabling the situation. Those in the industry have allowed themselves to be manipulated by healthcare authorities and the news media, thereby crippling their ability to seize the moment and show off real Spatial Information capability.

Review the following maps and ask yourself one simple question. What does this tell me about my community? Think local, not global.  Note that all maps were captured at the time of this writing on April 16, 2020

 World Health Organization Coronavirus Map

 Google Coronavirus Map

 Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Map

New York Times Coronavirus Map

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Map

Attempting to discover how many cases there are in my little community of about 30,000 people, I was unable to uncover any data at all.

County level data is all that is seemingly available, and it is no help. For anyone in a similar situation it paints a bleak picture, but perhaps that is the intent of these organizations.

My county covers over 400 square miles (1059 square km). It is about 50% rural/urban. One could easily draw a line between the two areas on a map. Currently, there are 128 cases, and I would hazard a guess that 95% of them are confined to the urban complex.

San Bernardino County, California — Google Maps — April 2020

San Bernardino County, California is the largest county in the United States, covering just over 20,000 square miles (51,936 square km). A very small portion of this area is urban, and I mean very small. They have 996 confirmed cases in that county. Even the sand dunes in the Mojave Desert are not safe.

Coconino County, Arizona — Google Maps — April 2020

Coconino County, Arizona is the second largest in the United States, covering 18,661 square miles (48,330 square km). They have 299 cases. Where are they in that massive county area? I suspect Flagstaff, the largest urban area, which consumes a mere 66 square miles (171 square km).

The list goes on. Comparisons could be made around the world. Identifying and analyzing county-equivalents in other countries is more of a task than necessary to make the point though.

Healthcare authorities across the country, in concert with the CDC and local governments, with full support of the news media, and plenty of backing hype from social media, seem to be taking pains to hide data. It appears that they desperately want everyone to believe that the world is facing the greatest pandemic since The Black Death of the 14th Century.

We need these organizations to help us help them.

If the true goal is to stop the spread and ensure the safety of every individual, then give citizens the data to do that. We do not need an App tracking each other. Report data in the most relevant format to individuals. Most are smart enough to know exactly what to do to avoid danger.

People need to know where cases are, specifically. County by county is wholly insufficient. Data should be displayed city by city, and in cases such as New York City or Los Angeles, we need to know borough by borough. (New York has actually begun to do that, finally.)

This method of aiding social-distancing worked well during the plagues of Europe. If one knew a town was riddled with the plague, they simply did not go there or did so at their own risk.

The world has suffered enough at the hands of misinformation in this age of technology and “big data.” It is time for governments and news organizations to quit lying with maps, and this is the best time and place to start. We need those with the data to be more honest with that data and share it, just as they ask us to share ours.

Let’s do this right for a change. Stop trying to scare everyone!

. . .

In case of curiosity, my background is in Geography, Cartography, Spatial Analysis, and Geographic Information Systems Architecture, forever with a mind towards the lessons taught by the Mark Monmonier in that one simple book, “How to Lie with Maps”

Coming from a Little Grove

Westbound MO-20 near Alma, Missouri

Wandering the Highway 24 corridor from Little Grove to Missouri City

Another beautiful day offered up the opportunity to prowl the graveyards and hometowns of family from years gone by and of course, other diversions.

Little Grove Cemetery near Malta Bend, Missouri

The journey began just south of Malta Bend in search of family. No immediate relations were home at the time, but a few distant cousins were discovered lounging about the lawn.

Malta Bend Mural

Malta Bend is quiet little town with claim to fame of being named for a sunken steamboat, which was only recently discovered nearby. The ship went down in 1841, filled with expensive and rare trading goods, after hitting a tree on the Missouri River near the site of the town.

Grand Pass Methodist Church

Moving west from there, Grand Pass is not much different. The namesake is not quite as intriguing, being named for the Great Osage Trail that passed through in those days.

St Luke’s United Church of Christ in Grand Pass, Missouri

Oddly, Grand Pass has two churches, seemingly unique for a town of only a hundred or so. One is situated right along the highway for the world to see, while the other is hidden down in a valley.

Zion Lutheran Church in Blackburn, Missouri

A Lutheran appearance to the churches in the area clearly define the background of the folks that settled the area as distinctly German.

Returning to the main drag, reviewing location and bearing, considering the time of year and relative insect populations, a minor diversion to an area named for another shipping incident seemed a good idea.

Baltimore Bend Wetlands

In 1859, the 80 meter and nearly 600 metric ton steamboat Baltimore snagged and was lost near this location. As with most other bends in the river where incidents such as this occurred, the name of the steamboat stuck for what is now the Baltimore Bend Conservation Area. This one has not been found yet, and remains interred somewhere nearby.

Dover Cemetery

A short distance down the road from there, more family held their ground at the Dover Cemetery. They were not quite so privileged enough to enjoy a shady spot beneath many of the enormous cedars scattered about, but managed to remain well kept.

The primary estate for the family marked the last round of relative visitations. Most enjoyed shade among the cedar grove. Some had done a few repairs to their accouterments, and all had chipped in to install a new front door.

Hicklin Schoolhouse

Other points drew attention along the journey homeward. Hicklin School sits neatly just a block or so from the road. The historic one-room school was built in 1914 and served the immediate area for about 40 years.

Battle of Lexington Battlefield

Battle of Lexington State Historic Site is another opportunity to peer through the lens of history. The more interesting associations were closed, but the Battlefield Trail remained open, and enabled a moment to stretch.

Masonic College Replica in Lexington, Missouri

Around the corner, a quarter scale replica of the original Masonic College building holds the memory of the September 1861 Union Headquarters of Colonel Mulligan during the infamous siege.

Wentworth Military Academy

Owning a history dating nearly as far back as the battle, Wentworth Military Academy sits silently down the block and the around. It is but a shadow of its former self. The halls are empty, statuary has been removed, and only ghosts of the accomplishments of great leaders of the twentieth century remain.

Apparent Lutheran Church in Missouri City

The conclusion of the journey across this particular portion of the once great highway leading from Michigan to Colorado detoured through Missouri City on the promise of an interesting Historical Marker. At the foot of yet another Germanic temple of worship that could have been the historic point itself, two others options were also presented for considerations.

Top:  River Park in Missouri City / Bottom:  Lewis & Clark marker in Missouri City

In these annals, this last situation is a “Hysterical Marker.” Is it the church, the Lewis & Clark placard located at the foot of the church or, last but not least, the notation of 1951 & 1993 flood stages across the street in River Park?

Battle to Reach Swan Swamp

Steel Shadow Art at Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site 

Mine Creek to Marais des Cygnes, by way of Pleasanton, Worland, and Foster

A bright and sunny day promising temperatures near 32°C led to wandering a civil war battlefield in east central Kansas, followed by visiting a few family graveyards and hometowns of decades past.
The first encounter of the day, Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site in Linn County, Kansas. It honors the victory of outnumbered Union forces of 1864, in what is considered one of the largest cavalry battles of the Civil War; particularly, a certain 20-year old Private Dunlavy of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry Regiment, who captured Confederate Major General Marmaduke.

Prairie Trail at Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site

There is not much there really, beyond a relatively freshly burned open field, and a lot of trail-side reading. A sign indicated the direction of a Confederate Memorial (leaving state property). Nothing appeared in immediate view, and lacking any sort of map, the main path along the Prairie Trail suggested the preferred route on this particular outing.

Linn County Courthouse in Kansas

A quick hop to the east, the Linn County Courthouse stood basking in the warm sun of springtime in eastern Kansas. It was built in 1885, using native limestone, and designed by a Topeka architect.

W.E. “Bunker” Hill Community Center in Pleasanton

Another moment down the street from the courthouse, a structure recalled memories of family reunions long ago.

Looking south across Mine Creek Bridge

A brief back-track along the previous route, and crossing Mine Creek Bridge (1927), a couple of turns were missed, but not forgotten. The grid roads of Kansas are sometimes just too predictable.

Fairmont Church and Littell Cemetery

The Littell Cemetery appeared soon enough, as it had in years past, just as family arrived, proving the best resting place for most. There was little success on this visit. Those called upon could not be located on this occasion.

First Baptist Church of Worland, Missouri

Checking on relatives from about the same period, across the state line, their town stood in ruins. Only a handful of folks call it home now, and the routing of secondary transportation routes appear to have aided in its obsolescence.

Worland is a peaceful little spot though, and those that remain would very likely have it no other way.

Walnut Creek near Foster, MO

The area hosts nature, for the most part. Walnut Creek quietly makes it way through the area, on its way to the Marais des Cygnes River. Many of the tiny towns in this part of the world posses similar traits.

Foster Grade & High School

Foster School once served the community sufficiently. It stands empty, boarded, and mostly forgotten. Later attempts to find any information about the site yielded nothing.

Salem Cemetery

Relatives down the road had witnessed a steady and continuous development in their neighborhood. All the new homes made it impossible to locate them.

Drainage Ditch to the Marais des Cygnes along SW CR4647

The Marais des Cygnes River, which translates to Swan Swamp, interrupts routes north of the previous destination, but not all. A good navigator and atlas prevented an unnecessary detour south.

Marais des Cygnes River from SW CR4647

Swan Swamp was not quite as scenic as originally thought. Years of flood management has obviously made it a shadow of its former self. The drainage ditch put on a better show.

Random field west of Butler, MO

The ensuing dirt road presented a few minor challenges, but offered up a vistas lacking obstruction of any sort. After kicking up the dust and a few rocks, pavement stretched out to Butler. Relatives interred there were much easier to locate. Grounds keepers identified their exact location, making the day a partial success on that specific front. Setting a course for home base, times gone by were left far behind once again.

Spring Break Evacuation

Building mural in Tonganoxie, Kansas

Roaming the region around Kansas City at a safe social distance

Plans for wandering about this past week went awry with the increasing popularity of COVID-19. While cases in areas considered for travel remained very low, and planned public contact extremely limited, it seemed better to err on the side of caution and explore other options.

In all fairness, the virus was not the only barrier. A week long forecast filled with cool temperatures, gloomy days, and endless rain seemed to envelop the entire country. The cards simply were not stacked favorably.

Researching meteorological and contamination conditions on the ground of potential spots within striking distance, a few interesting places offered a chance for a somewhat dry and healthy escape.

The first day out was the longest trek, a 160 km journey to Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site in north-central Missouri.  Accessing the site was easy enough, though could be challenging under wetter conditions. A narrow foot bridge crosses Locust Creek from the parking area and connects with the old road leading to the covered bridge. Rain from preceding days had created a quagmire for about 20 meters from the foot bridge to the raised bed of the old road leading to the covered bridge.

Locust Creek Covered Bridge

The old white pine bridge is mostly unremarkable in appearance, but is the longest of four remaining covered bridges in Missouri, measuring 46 meters. Locust Creek no longer passes beneath it quite as often as when originally constructed in 1868 for use as a crucial link within the transcontinental roadways of the nation.

War Angel sculpture at Pershing State Park

Only 18 km further down the road, Pershing State Park begged investigation too. Honoring General John J Pershing of World War I, who apparently spent his boyhood playing and hiking in the area, the park offers immersion in the wetland landscape surrounding Locust Creek.

Another bridge of an unknown era crosses into the wetlands, coupled with a boardwalk trail meandering through. With rain stirring and time waning, the acquaintance was set aside for another occasion.

The rain dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, of course. It was really no matter. The brief outing had been good. Wandering the back highways towards home base offered time for peaceful reflection, and occasion to meet Maxine, the “World’s Largest Goose.”

. . . 

After some minor preparations for the coming viral apocalypse, some time was set aside time the following day to locate a waterfall only 50 km down the road over in Kansas. That the relatively flat state has anything beyond man-made falls remains a point of curiosity and intrigue.

Angel Falls in Lansing, Kansas

Angel Falls is easy to find and even easier to access. A short ½ km paved path behind St Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lansing leads to a footbridge crossing Sevenmile Creek. The one meter falls are immediately visible from the bridge or after crossing, a short packed earth path leads directly to the base of the falls.

The trail must be a fairly popular destination. Even on this cold and gloomy day in the small town of Lansing, several were out and about walking dogs or just passing through. We kept our distance, and they theirs, quickly departing before the population exploded.

Riverside Falls in Riverside, Missouri

Choosing an alternative route home, a momentary pause in Riverside for a look at their falls ended a relatively low-key day.

. . . 

Warm sunshine filled the following day, and the temperature soared to about 24°C amid increasing clouds. Certain obligations prevented much wandering about, but a short hike close to home rounded out the day nicely.

Pond and wetlands near KCPD Trail of Heroes

The relatively new, and still somewhat incomplete, KCPD Trail of Heroes strolls through nearby wetlands of Shoal Creek and features memorials to various police officials in the history of Kansas City. Recent rainfall washed out part of the 1.2 km trail, but it remained manageable.

. . . 

Building mural in De Soto, Kansas

Skies were clear and sunny again the following day, but the temperature had dropped significantly to a cool 7°C. Undeterred, some time was spent simply wandering back roads to a point just southwest of Lawrence, Kansas. What is normally only a one-hour trek, took just over 2 hours.

Wilkey Waterfalls near Lawrence, Kansas

Situated on the Wakarusa River below Clinton Lake Dam, Wilkey Waterfall is about 2 meters tall. The falls are not much more impressive than those in Lansing, but scenic in their own unique way, as most are. Viewing them is not possible from anywhere but beside them, and it can be a somewhat perilous journey down a steep riverbank to do so, depending upon conditions. Lots make the journey for other reasons though. It is seemingly a popular little fishing hole.

Congregational Church in Tonganoxie, Kansas

The return trip was uneventful, and not quite as time-consuming as the trip out, but a ice drive under beautiful blue skies, windows down, music up.

. . .

Intending to remain at home base and continue preparations for the coming viral apocalypse, partly sunny skies and slightly warmer temperatures urged further wandering about.

Captain Creek Waterfall

Another set of waterfalls lying just south of Eudora in Kansas were proved a tiny bit trickier to locate. The first attempt was a bust, having transcribed coordinates incorrectly. Turning back down the road a couple of kilometers to pick up a mobile signal again, the error turned out minor. The presumed location of the falls were only a kilometer east of where originally marked.

Captain Creek Waterfall

Arriving at the corrected location, accessing Captain Creek Falls required only a bit more effort. Traipsing about 400 meters along the associated creek and the boundary of a farm field, the sound of rushing water soon filled the air. They turned out no more impressive than those visited earlier in the week, but they had been located. Mission accomplished.