islandsKal

IslandsKal is a digital atlas and research platform that aggregates geographic, ecological, historical, and cultural information about islands worldwide. It is designed to support scholars, policymakers, conservation organizations, and educators in understanding island systems, risks, and resilience.

Initiated by the Kal Foundation and a consortium of universities in 2020–21, IslandsKal entered public beta in 2022 and reached a broad launch in 2023. It grew from an open-data project into a platform offering data layers, collaboration tools, and an API to enable researchers and planners to access and contribute content.

The platform features a dynamic map viewer with layers for topography, land cover, climate exposure, biodiversity, population density, and infrastructure, plus a data catalog, export options, and an application programming interface. Users can add community notes, verify provenance, and work with offline maps on mobile devices.

Data sources include satellite imagery, national statistics, museum collections, and peer-reviewed datasets. Licensing centers on an open-data framework, with contributions governed by an international advisory board and community moderators. Sensitive sites can be redacted or restricted to protect ecosystems and vulnerable communities.

IslandsKal has been adopted by researchers, NGOs, and educators for conservation planning, hazard assessment, and curriculum development. It has been praised for data interoperability and transparency, though critics note uneven coverage and ongoing challenges in data quality and representativeness. Ongoing efforts aim to improve coverage and equity.