The blog post discusses the use of LiDAR technology to assess the damage caused by the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles, which resulted in significant loss of life and property. It highlights how LiDAR scans from before and a...
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Jon Keegan is a data journalist and visualization expert with a passion for exploring and curating visually interesting government datasets.
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The USGS has created the most detailed geologic map of the contiguous United States, synthesizing decades of state and federal geological surveys. This map integrates data from approximately 100 sources, standardizing rock-unit na...
NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley has a rich history of space and aeronautics innovation captured in a visual archive. It includes images of wind tunnels, experimental aircraft, space exploration missions, and early VR r...
The text discusses the forced displacement and incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII, featuring haunting photos and documents by Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange. It also covers the propaganda efforts to convince Americans...
Reporter Sam Biddle found a treasure trove of Department of Defense slides from the 1970s and 1980s depicting data from missile systems, Soviet capabilities, and America’s nuclear arsenal. The slides contain information about Amer...
The US government has been collecting and sharing data about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) for decades. Recent reports and videos from US Navy pilots have prompted the government to publicly confirm the authenticity of U...
The blog post discusses an archive of 14,000 photos of Army uniforms, military gear, and rations from the 70s and 80s, which were discovered by a visual researcher. The collection includes photographs of various military supplies,...
0Visualizing Ship Movements with AIS Data
2024-09-17 •
The blog post by Jon Keegan explores the intricate paths of ships using AIS (Automatic Identification System) data, which tracks ship movements for maritime safety. The data, sourced from NOAA, is visualized using QGIS to create a...
The blog post discusses the US Web Design System (USWDS) and the Public Sans typeface, both designed to improve the accessibility and functionality of government websites. The USWDS, created by the 18F team and the U.S. Digital Se...
0Aerial Glacier Photographs
2024-06-18 •
The blog post discusses a collection of 100,000 high-resolution aerial photographs of glaciers taken over 40 years using a World War II-era camera. These photos, part of the USGS North American Glacier Aerial Photography project, ...
0The Naughty Words the FAA Removed From the Sky
2024-05-28 •
The blog post discusses the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) renaming of navigation waypoints, particularly those related to Donald Trump, following controversies in 2015. The author, Jon Keegan, obtained records through a ...
0Trademark Design Codes
2024-04-09 •
The blog post discusses the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) system of 1,400 design codes used to categorize trademarks. These codes help in identifying and searching for trademarks, which can include unique nam...
0FAA Aviation Maps
2024-01-29 •
The blog post discusses the high information density of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) aviation maps, which are crucial for pilots navigating U.S. airspace. These maps, including Terminal Procedure Publications (TPP),...
0Government Comic Books
2023-11-27 •
The blog post explores the history and significance of government-published comic books in the United States. These comics have been used to educate the public on various topics, including forest fire prevention, nuclear safety, d...
0Wild Horses
2023-10-17 •
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offers $1,000 to adopt a wild horse or burro as part of its Wild Horse and Burro Program, aimed at managing overpopulation on public lands. The program has faced criticism from animal rights adv...
0The Army and Navy Style Guides
2023-10-04 •
The blog post discusses the importance of brand style guides for organizations, focusing on the U.S. Army and Navy. It highlights how these guides help maintain a cohesive corporate identity through specific rules for logos, color...
0Nuclear Weapon Test Films
2023-09-21 •
The blog post discusses the extensive archive of nuclear weapon test films maintained by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, documenting tests from the 1940s to the 1960s. These films, capturing the powerful explosions in sl...
0All of the 8,331 License Plates in America
2023-08-21 •
The blog post explores the vast array of vehicle license plates available across the United States, totaling 8,331 different designs as of mid-2023. It highlights the diversity of plates, which cater to various professions, organi...
0Mapping Volcano Eruptions With Drones
2023-05-23 •
The blog post discusses the use of drones by USGS researchers to safely study volcanic eruptions at Hawaii's Kīlauea Volcano. Drones help capture detailed images and 3-D models of the crater, minimizing risks associated with tradi...
0Here’s All the Rocks We Hauled Back From the Moon
2023-05-02 •
The blog post discusses the collection and documentation of lunar rocks and soil samples by American astronauts during the Apollo missions. A total of 842 pounds of samples were collected, which are now meticulously cataloged by N...
01,000 Photos of Dolphin Fins
2023-04-10 •
The blog post discusses a research project involving 1,000 photographs of Common Bottlenose Dolphin dorsal fins, revealing the harsh realities of their lives marked by scars and injuries. These unique markings serve as identifiers...
0The Mirror Fusion Test Facility
2023-03-27 •
The blog post discusses the history and significance of the Mirror Fusion Test Facility-B (MFTF-B) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Despite nearly a decade of development and significant funding, the project was shut dow...