What Is Public Map?

Public Map began as research into how planning our places could be fairer and more inclusive - informing decisions and promoting discussion using data displayed on maps.

It has since evolved into a shared digital platform that turns lived experience into evidence for better decisions. Around the platform, we work with communities, organisations to activate it through flexible services that deliver value at local, regional and national scales.

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  • The Crown Estate logo
  • North Wales Wildlife Trust logo
  • University of Cambridge logo

The Platform

Public Map Platform is our spatial analysis tool...

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Public Map is richest and most detailed in Ynys Môn / Anglesey, where the platform has been developed and tested with local partners.

New mapping epicentres are emerging in Cambridge, Wrexham and Pontypridd, with more communities beginning to contribute.

For the most immersive experience, we recommend exploring Public Map on desktop.

Quick and Easy Stats

Map statistical data with a few easy clicks. Simply choose your variable, classification scheme and colours for rich maps.

Try it

Hundreds of Data Layers

The catalogue makes finding and mapping hundred of layers quick and easy.

Explore layers

Explore Map Projects

Explore an existing library of map projects curated by theme or made by the public.

Explore projects

Community Assets

Use Public Map to access Open Street Map’s extensive mapping database to create your own customised map of local community assets.

Launch the Platform

Multimedia Friendly

Add videos and images to your community maps to add depth and make them come alive.

Explore media
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Custom Animated Symbols

Map symbols needn't be boring. Make them come alive with fun animations which you can create yourself by following our easy guide or choose from those already created.

Explore symbols

Who is Public Map For?

Public Map is for anyone shaping a place. It reveals patterns of land, people and connection to help us understand where we are and who we are together. We’ve grouped the platform around four core audiences, and we provide each with tailored services.

Decision Makers

Governments, local authorities, planners, health boards, strategic partnerships, professional bodies, and think tanks working at local, regional, and national scales.

Make better decisions with shared, trusted evidence

Organisations

Governments, local authorities, planners, health boards, strategic partnerships, professional bodies, think tanks and private/commercial businesses working at local, regional, and national scales.

Engage communities, build trust, and deliver place-based projects with real insight.

Local Communities

People of all ages who want to share something, find out specific information, or engage in decisions about where they live.

Share lived experience and help shape decisions about places you care about.

Services

We’ve brought together researchers, data specialists, and community mappers with experience generating insight from the ground up. As patterns and needs emerge, we’re developing a flexible suite of services shaped collaboratively with the people and organisations using them.

Collaborate with us

Want to collaborate with us or interested in learning more?

Speak to the team

Latest Blog

A map showing children’s use of stickers to explore social places in their neighbourhood in Anglesey

Social Mapping – how we use places socially and how to map them

How do we use places socially and how do we map them? Place makes a difference to how we act socially. One of the core purposes of Public Map is map social places – to help us better understand the places that local children, young people, and adults, value as social spaces, and where they feel social space needs to be improved. In this blog, Matluba Khan and Tom Smith introduce the social mapping work they’re leading.

A photo of the person.
A photo of the person.
Multiple authors
01/12/2025

Latest News

A map of air pollution areas on Anglesey

Our first refereeed journal article!

Our first peer-reviewed journal article explores schoolchildren’s personal air pollution exposure in rural Wales, celebrating community-led research and recognition in the Journal of Environmental Management.

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Dr. Rachel Gwenllian Hughes
06/01/2026

What People Are Saying

I just came out of the all-Wales Local Nature Partnership meeting today and a few people were talking about how exciting the Public Map project is and how it could be a 'game-changer' for Local Nature Partnerships in the future! I know everything is stressful right now but just wanted you to know that people are very bought-in and cheering for the project to succeed.

Aurora Hood

Local Wildlife Officer, Cyngor Ynys Môn

We have had so much fun being part of this project, all the pupils have been engaged with all the activities from mapping their journey to school, mapping local areas that are important to them and going on a trip to taking part in the personal air sensor research - this information was so interesting! Our air sensor in the classroom has provided very interesting data too where we have discovered that CO2 is quite high, so we have been trying to lower it in different ways such as opening the door, buying plants, using an air purifier. All the staff that we have worked with have been so great and the workshops we've had have been so fun and the children have learned so much! We look forward to having more sessions with the environmental researchers in the new year. Diolch.

Mrs Mari Edwards

Ysgol Gymraeg Morswyn

What's great about your project in particular is that it is open source. in our world of digital boundaries and bubbles and spaces we live, it's great to be able to share and link information like this across services so that people can find things where they are rather than having to drag themselves digitally to ‘somewhere new’.

Ben Freeman

Manager, DASH Ceredigion

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Working towards a future that prioritises the wellbeing of people and planet.
Public Map Platform is being led by Cambridge, Cardiff and Wrexham Universities and is part of the Future Observatory - the Design Museum’s national research programme for the green transition. The project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. This website does not use cookies and does not collect personally identifying information.