At the almost sold out OpenGovDC conference this Tuesday, we’ll be participating in the session Telling Stories with Maps, discussing how geospatial information can be presented to improve communications and advance policy and transparency. We’re strong proponents of the idea that data should be dynamic and browsable. With emerging open source mapping tools that make it easier and more affordable to create interactive custom visualizations of data, the days of presenting data in spreadsheet tables and screenshots of maps are over. We’re looking forward to talking about the technology powering this shift, but more importantly about the communications gains to be had by presenting data in custom interactive maps.

Joining us on the panel is Emily Drew from the Business Civic Leadership Center, who we’ve worked with to map the Japan earthquake and the floods in Pakistan last summer — both with the goal to drive aid to the most affected areas. Michael Byrne, Geographic Information Officer at the FCC, will also be on the panel, talking about some of the neat mapping work the FCC is doing like its National Broadband Map.

There are still a few tickets available for OpenGovDC on Tuesday, June 14 in Washington, DC, and you can register here.

If you want to learn more about mapping, we highly recommend you check out this weekend’s WhereCampDC — a two day conference showing what can be done with maps in ignite talks, and then diving into geo-technology in an unconference.