Spotzi app gives access to environmental data

A free online atlas called Spotzi gives users access to data on a range of topics, including the environment, for countries around the world.

The atlas allows users to zoom in on a country and explore that area by theme. In total there are nine main themes -- agriculture and farming; climatology and meteorology; business and economy; cultural, people and leisure; health and diseases; transport and communication; environment and conservation; military and intelligence; and geology and biology.

Together these nine themes contain 500 different 'maps' on a variety of sub-topics and are compiled using data from governments and research institutions.

In a November 30 press release introducing Spotzi the company outlined an example of a real-world use for this data, '[maps of] hurricanes, earthquake hazards [...] are available [...]. So when there is a new hurricane, the user can find it on the map at Spotzi.'

Users of the database can also access other information on climate and the environment such as desertification, precipitation and wildfires.

Spotzi iOS and Android apps are also available to download for free from the respective app stores.

The site is still in its infancy and it remains to be seen how and if it will compete against other world-mapping services such as Google Earth which frequently releases information or is used to gather information mapping the effects or potential effects of climate change.

The latest such information gathered using Google Earth by NGOs International Rivers and Friends of the Earth International shows how dams around the world can exacerbate climate change and was released in video format to draw attention to the issue in time for COP17, taking place in Durban, South Africa from November 28 to December 9.