AI-ASSISTED · EDITOR-REVIEWED
Theme brief
Points turn individual observations into a pattern. The strongest point maps make every mark earn its place: encode category with shape or color, use size only for meaningful quantities, and avoid hiding dense areas beneath overlapping symbols.
Official prompt“A map challenge classic. Map with points.”
30DayMapChallenge 2026
WAYS IN
Four map ideas
- 01
Map every public drinking fountain and show the gaps between them.
- 02
Compare late-night cafés with transit stops in one neighbourhood.
- 03
Build a personal map from a month of photos, walks or field notes.
- 04
Use proportional circles to compare cities while keeping the legend honest.
IN THE DIRECTORY
Recommended tools
QGIS
Best when you need joins, symbol rules, labels and precise print output.
Open source · View detailskepler.gl
Turns a large CSV of coordinates into an exploratory point map in minutes.
Open source · View detailsFelt
Good for a polished, shareable map with annotations and collaborators.
Freemium · View detailsDatawrapper
A fast route from a small table to an accessible locator or symbol map.
Freemium · View detailsSTART WITH A CLEAR LICENSE
Data sources
Query amenities, shops and other tagged places with Overpass Turbo.
ODbL 1.0 · attribution required Natural Earth populated placesA compact global set of city and town points for small-scale maps.
Public domain GeoNames geographical namesWorldwide named places with coordinates and feature classes.
CC BY 4.0 · attribution requiredLicenses are a planning aid, not legal advice. Check the source record and version you actually download; terms can vary within a catalog.
BEFORE YOU EXPORT
Cartography check
Test the map at thumbnail size. If the pattern disappears, simplify the basemap or reduce the number of symbol classes.
COMMUNITY MAPS
Selected work
First participate officially by posting publicly with #30DayMapChallenge. You can then suggest that original post for our independent MapTools picks. We link to the source, credit every author and use images only with permission.
Suggest for MapTools picks