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9/8/2006 (Nairobi, Kenya) – Chief Cartographer Brody Dittemore arrived in Kenya and has begun working on Cartisan's next international city map: Nairobi. Creating urban maps of the developing world poses challenges that are often not faced when creating products of more industrialized areas. Problem solving is all part of the fun, as well as the opportunity to present the final product in a visually exciting layout that gives a taste of the life and culture we've worked in.
One of the aspects Brody's become thrilled and wrapped up in is the mapping of Nairobi's public transit system. Instead of large natural gas buses, tram lines and light rails, the backbone of this city's transit system are mini-vans, or "mutatus." On first arrival these vehicles often seemed to be clandestine operations of drivers just cruising taking passengers wherever. The reality of the situation is a very intricate, superbly functioning system of routes and hubs, with trunk and feeder lines.
Granted, our original concept designs for the Nairobi map did not feature the public transport system, the opportunity to present this information to residents, international workers, and travelers is quite welcome. The ecological benefits of public transit cannot be ignored, nor can the dollar benefit: a five minute taxi ride can cost more than $10, while the same mutatu ride is typically 20 shillings (roughly 28 cents).
Meanwhile, Oscar Larson, in the Cartisan home office, recently wrapped up work on a number of projects. Of note were custom street maps of five other international cities, to be featured in televised Hyatt commercials by superb graphic design company Cramer-Krasselt. As autumn approached, Cartisan cartographers and map staff are looking forward to designing your custom mapping, GIS, research, and analysis solutions. Contact us at maps@cartisan.com if we can be of service.
If you'd like to read other press releases by Cartisan's map staff, click here.