MappingSchritte

MappingSchritte is a conceptual framework and software approach for representing and analyzing procedural steps within spatial and geographical contexts. The term combines Mapping with Schritte (German for steps) and is used to describe a method of decomposing complex processes into mapable units and their interconnections. The concept originated in German-speaking GIS research communities in the early 2010s and has since been applied across disciplines that require visualization of workflows over space and time.

At its core, MappingSchritte models a process as a graph of steps (nodes) connected by relationships (edges). Each step can carry spatial features, attributes, and temporal data. The approach emphasizes modularity, reusability, and interoperability, enabling practitioners to assemble step maps from existing layers and to export to common formats such as GeoJSON or shapefiles. Tools in this space often include a graph database backend, a mapping client, and support for standard GIS projections and coordinate reference systems.

Applications include urban planning, environmental monitoring, disaster response, logistics, and public-health logistics, where understanding the spatial sequence of actions improves planning, simulation, and communication. MappingSchritte supports collaboration by tagging steps with responsible actors, timelines, and dependencies, and by enabling scenario analysis and what-if planning.

Challenges and development areas include data privacy, scalability, and standardization. The framework is one of several approaches used to organize and visualize processes in space, alongside process mining, workflow diagrams, and traditional GIS mapping. It is typically integrated with broader data infrastructures and GIS ecosystems. See also Geographic Information System; process mining; graph theory.