Our HunchLab team has been working on some new server-based kernel density routines that will generate density maps based on crime events.  Many in the GIS world have taken to calling density maps like these “hot spot” maps or “heat” maps.  But the recent map published by Transport for London is a little different – it literally shows which line segments have the highest temperature.  The tunnels through which the subways run have been steadily warming for the last century, with temperatures now exceeding 32 degrees Celsius and no air conditioned cars.  Some of them will get new air-conditioned cars in 2010, other lines with deep tunnels have no space for waste heat and are experimenting with alternative approaches to cooling the passengers.  These are static maps, but I think we’ll all be carrying temperature, noise and other sensors built into our phones and tablets in a few years.  That’s going to make for an avalanche of data, but some potentially fascinating applications.

• London Underground Blog Story
• The Underground Heat Map
• Times Online Article
• TFL’s other downloadable maps