This is a comprehensive guide to digital tools for environmental storytelling and investigation
Environmental stories often involve complex scientific data, geographic relationships, and long-term changes that are difficult to communicate through text alone. This toolkit, inspired by the award-winning "Saving the Osun River" investigation, provides environmental journalists with proven digital tools to transform abstract environmental data into compelling, accessible, and impactful visual narratives.
Each tool has been tested in real-world environmental reporting and selected for its effectiveness in different aspects of environmental storytelling—from immediate social media impact to long-term academic research and policy advocacy.
These four tools form the foundation of comprehensive environmental investigation visualization for the "Saving the Osun River Project".
Best for: Geographic narrative storytelling and multimedia investigations
Environmental Applications:
Pollution source mapping: Follow contamination from source to impact zones
Community impact documentation: Show how environmental problems affect real people
Policy intervention tracking: Map government responses and cleanup efforts
Cross-border environmental issues: Trace pollution across jurisdictions
Why It Works: StoryMap combines geography with multimedia storytelling, perfect for environmental issues that have both spatial and human dimensions. Users can follow pollution pathways while hearing community voices and seeing scientific evidence.
Case Study - Osun River: Our StoryMap traced the 267-kilometer river system, combining satellite imagery, audio testimonies from affected communities, scientific data, and policy responses into a single interactive narrative.
Getting Started:
Create free account at storymap.knightlab.com
Prepare GPS coordinates for key locations
Gather multimedia content (photos, audio, video)
Plan narrative flow from problem identification to solutions
Pro Tips:
Keep text concise (3-4 sentences per slide)
Use high-resolution images (1200x800px minimum)
Include audio testimonies for emotional impact
Provide source links for credibility
Resource Links:
Tool: Knight Lab StoryMap
Tutorial: StoryMap Guide
Examples: Environmental StoryMaps
Best for: Temporal environmental change analysis and satellite documentation
Environmental Applications:
Deforestation tracking: Document forest loss over time
Mining expansion monitoring: Show industrial growth and environmental impact
Climate change visualization: Track drought, flooding, and seasonal changes
Urban expansion impact: Monitor development pressure on natural areas
Why It Works: Satellite imagery provides objective, time-stamped evidence of environmental change that's difficult to dispute. Essential for documenting slow-onset environmental problems that aren't visible day-to-day.
Case Study - Osun River: Our timeline documented mining expansion from 2015-2025, showing how small-scale artisanal operations evolved into industrial excavations affecting water quality and landscape integrity.
Getting Started:
Access through earthengine.google.com
Request access (free for research and journalism)
Learn basic JavaScript for custom analysis
Use pre-built applications for common analyses
Pro Tips:
Compare same seasons across different years
Use cloud-free imagery for clear comparisons
Combine with ground-truth field work
Export high-resolution images for publication
Resource Links:
Tool: Google Earth Engine
Getting Started: Earth Engine Tutorials
Community: Earth Engine Developers
Examples: Earth Engine Demo Site
Best for: Before/after visual comparisons and environmental transformation documentation
Environmental Applications:
Pollution impact visualization: Clean vs. contaminated environments
Disaster documentation: Before/after natural or industrial disasters
Restoration progress tracking: Show environmental recovery efforts
Seasonal environmental changes: Document natural cycles vs. human impacts
Why It Works: Interactive sliders create immediate emotional impact and make environmental change undeniably visible. Perfect for social media sharing and grabbing audience attention.
Case Study - Osun River: Our 2014 vs. 2024 comparison revealed the decade-long transformation from clear sacred waters to contaminated brown pollution, providing irrefutable visual evidence of environmental collapse.
Getting Started:
Visit juxtapose.knightlab.com
Upload two comparison images (same size recommended)
Customize slider appearance and labels
Embed code in website or share standalone
Pro Tips:
Use identical camera angles and framing
Ensure high image resolution and quality
Add descriptive captions explaining the comparison
Consider seasonal timing for accurate comparisons
Resource Links:
Tool: Juxtapose JS
Examples: Before/After Gallery, & Before/ After Juxtapose of the Osun River
Documentation: Juxtapose Help
Best for: Comprehensive data synthesis and policy presentation
Environmental Applications:
Research synthesis: Combine multiple studies and data sources
Stakeholder presentations: Present findings to policymakers and funders
Public education: Break down complex environmental science
Solution framework presentation: Outline comprehensive intervention strategies
Why It Works: Non-linear presentation format allows exploration of complex environmental problems with multiple interconnected factors. Ideal for showing relationships between causes, effects, and solutions.
Case Study - Osun River: Our Prezi synthesized water quality data, health projections, policy responses, and solution frameworks into a navigable presentation that stakeholders could explore based on their specific interests.
Getting Started:
Create account at prezi.com
Choose environmental-themed templates
Plan content flow and connection points
Upload multimedia content and data visualizations
Pro Tips:
Avoid motion sickness with smooth transitions
Use consistent design elements throughout
Include clickable links to detailed sources
Test presentation flow with sample audiences
Resource Links:
Tool: Prezi
Templates: Prezi Design Center
Training: Prezi Academy
Example: Prezi Presentation demo of the Saving the Osun River Project
For complex environmental data analysis and scientific communication
Best for: Animated charts and engaging data storytelling
Environmental Applications:
Pollution trend animation: Show contamination levels rising over time
Racing bar charts: Compare environmental indicators across regions
Animated maps: Visualize spreading environmental problems
Interactive scatter plots: Explore correlations between environmental and health data
Why It Works: Animated visualizations grab attention on social media and make data trends memorable. Essential for creating viral content that brings attention to environmental issues.
Getting Started:
Sign up at flourish.studio
Upload CSV data files
Choose animation templates
Customize colors and branding
Resource Links:
Tool: Flourish Studio
Templates: Flourish Template Gallery
Help: Flourish Help Center
Best for: Interactive data exploration and scientific analysis
Environmental Applications:
Water quality trend analysis: Interactive charts with user controls
Pollution source correlation: Explore relationships between multiple variables
Health impact modeling: Show projections under different scenarios
Economic analysis: Compare environmental costs vs. cleanup expenses
Why It Works: Observable notebooks allow readers to manipulate data and explore relationships themselves, building trust through transparency and enabling deeper analysis.
Getting Started:
Create account at observablehq.com
Learn basic JavaScript and D3.js
Fork existing environmental examples
Publish notebooks for peer review
Resource Links:
Tool: Observable
Learning: Observable Tutorials
Community: Observable Forum
For location-based environmental investigation and mapping
Best for: Advanced geospatial analysis and professional mapping
Environmental Applications:
Pollution hotspot mapping: Heat maps showing contamination density
Environmental justice analysis: Overlay pollution with demographic data
Infrastructure impact assessment: Show development effects on environment
Real-time environmental monitoring: Live updates from sensor networks
Why It Works: CARTO provides enterprise-level mapping capabilities that government agencies and NGOs use, lending credibility to environmental investigations.
Getting Started:
Sign up at carto.com
Upload geospatial data (CSV with coordinates, shapefiles)
Use Builder for drag-and-drop map creation
Embed maps or share URLs
Resource Links:
Tool: CARTO
Learning: CARTO Academy
Examples: CARTO Gallery
Best for: Custom interactive mapping and mobile-optimized visualizations
Environmental Applications:
Community reporting systems: Crowdsourced pollution documentation
Real-time environmental data: Live sensor feeds and alert systems
Offline mapping: Environmental data access without internet
Mobile-first design: Smartphone-optimized environmental tools
Why It Works: Highly customizable mapping platform that works well in areas with limited internet infrastructure, essential for environmental reporting in remote areas.
Getting Started:
Create account at mapbox.com
Design custom map styles
Add interactive data layers
Integrate with mobile applications
Resource Links:
Tool: Mapbox
Documentation: Mapbox GL JS
Examples: Mapbox Gallery
For understanding complex environmental stakeholder relationships
Best for: Network analysis and stakeholder relationship mapping
Environmental Applications:
Stakeholder network analysis: Map relationships between companies, officials, and communities
Pollution source interconnections: Show how contamination sources amplify each other
Policy influence mapping: Understand decision-making networks
Supply chain analysis: Trace environmental impacts through economic networks
Why It Works: Environmental problems involve complex networks of actors and relationships. Kumu reveals hidden connections and identifies key intervention points.
Getting Started:
Create account at kumu.io
Import relationship data (CSV format)
Use templates for common network types
Customize visualization and add context
Resource Links:
Tool: Kumu
Guides: Kumu Documentation
Examples: Kumu Gallery
Best for: Advanced network analysis and academic research
Environmental Applications:
Citation network analysis: Map connections between research papers
Social media influence tracking: Understand information spread patterns
Economic flow analysis: Visualize money flows in environmental sectors
Scientific collaboration networks: Show research partnerships
Why It Works: Open-source tool providing powerful network analysis for academic research and investigative journalism requiring detailed relationship analysis.
Getting Started:
Download from gephi.org
Import network data (GEXF, CSV formats)
Apply layout algorithms for network visualization
Export high-quality images for publication
Resource Links:
Tool: Gephi
Tutorials: Gephi Learn
Community: Gephi Forum
For creating impactful environmental experiences
Best for: 3D environmental visualization and immersive experiences
Environmental Applications:
3D watershed modeling: Show contamination flow through terrain
Mining impact visualization: 3D models of landscape changes
Virtual site visits: 3D environments for remote audiences
Future scenario modeling: Visualize restoration vs. degradation paths
Why It Works: 3D visualization creates emotional impact and helps international audiences understand scale and geography of environmental problems.
Getting Started:
Access cesium.com
Use Cesium ion for data hosting
Learn CesiumJS for custom applications
Integrate with satellite and drone imagery
Resource Links:
Tool: Cesium
Tutorials: Cesium Learn
Sandcastle: Code Examples
Best for: Web-based virtual reality experiences
Environmental Applications:
Virtual environmental tours: VR experiences of contaminated vs. clean environments
Cultural heritage preservation: VR documentation of endangered sites
Educational experiences: Virtual field trips to environmental sites
Empathy building: Immersive experiences showing environmental impacts
Why It Works: Web-based VR creates empathy and understanding impossible through traditional media, particularly powerful for environmental education.
Getting Started:
Learn at aframe.io
Use HTML-like syntax for VR creation
Integrate 360-degree photography
Test on mobile VR devices
Resource Links:
Tool: A-Frame
School: A-Frame School
Examples: A-Frame Gallery
For ongoing environmental tracking and community empowerment
Best for: Crisis mapping and community-driven reporting
Environmental Applications:
Pollution incident reporting: Community documentation of environmental violations
Health impact tracking: Crowdsourced health problem reporting
Government response monitoring: Track cleanup efforts and enforcement
Emergency response coordination: Real-time crisis communication
Why It Works: Empowers communities to document environmental problems using mobile technology, creating accountability and early warning systems.
Getting Started:
Deploy at ushahidi.com
Customize reporting categories
Set up SMS and web reporting
Train community coordinators
Resource Links:
Tool: Ushahidi
Documentation: Ushahidi Support
Community: Ushahidi Forums
Best for: Real-time environmental monitoring dashboards
Environmental Applications:
Water quality monitoring: Real-time contamination level displays
Air quality tracking: Live pollution monitoring from sensor networks
Mining activity surveillance: Automated monitoring of industrial operations
Government accountability tracking: Real-time progress on environmental commitments
Why It Works: Professional monitoring platform used by environmental agencies worldwide, providing credible real-time environmental data visualization.
Getting Started:
Download from grafana.com
Connect to environmental data sources
Create custom dashboards
Set up automated alerts
Resource Links:
Tool: Grafana
Documentation: Grafana Docs
Community: Grafana Forums
For preserving environmental investigation materials
Best for: Digital archive creation and cultural heritage preservation
Environmental Applications:
Investigation archive: Organize research, documents, and multimedia
Community story preservation: Digital collection of testimonies and experiences
Historical documentation: Preserve environmental data for future research
Collaborative research: Shared archive for multiple investigators
Why It Works: Professional archival standards ensure long-term preservation of environmental investigation materials and community voices.
Getting Started:
Download from omeka.org
Install on web server
Configure metadata standards
Train contributors on archive standards
Resource Links:
Tool: Omeka S
Documentation: Omeka S User Manual
Community: Omeka Forums
Best for: Multimedia scholarship and complex narrative structures
Environmental Applications:
Multimedia investigations: Complex digital publications with multiple media types
Academic environmental scholarship: Peer-reviewed digital research
Community storytelling platforms: Multiple perspective narratives
Educational resource creation: Interactive textbook-style materials
Why It Works: Handles complex multimedia narratives that traditional publishing cannot accommodate, perfect for comprehensive environmental investigations.
Getting Started:
Create account at scalar.me
Plan multimedia content structure
Use annotation and path features
Collaborate with multiple authors
Resource Links:
Tool: Scalar
User Guide: Scalar Documentation
Examples: Scalar Gallery
Begin with these four tools that provide immediate impact:
StoryMap - Create your first geographic narrative
Juxtapose - Document before/after environmental change
Flourish - Animate key data for social media
CARTO - Create professional maps for stakeholders
Add tools for deeper analysis and community engagement:
Observable - Interactive data exploration
Ushahidi - Community reporting system
Google Earth Engine - Satellite change analysis
Kumu - Stakeholder network mapping
Develop sophisticated visualization capabilities:
Cesium - 3D environmental modeling
Grafana - Real-time monitoring systems
A-Frame - VR experiences for education
Omeka S - Permanent digital archive
Master advanced tools for academic and policy impact:
Gephi - Advanced network analysis
Scalar - Multimedia scholarship
Mapbox - Custom mobile applications
Social Network Analysis - Strategic communication
Many environmental stories occur in areas with limited internet access:
Offline functionality: Choose tools that work without constant connectivity
Mobile optimization: Ensure tools work on smartphones with limited data
Bandwidth efficiency: Prioritize tools that load quickly on slow connections
Local hosting: Consider tools that can be hosted locally when possible
Environmental journalism often involves sensitive information:
Secure data storage: Use encrypted storage for sensitive documents
Anonymous reporting: Implement secure systems for community reporting
Backup strategies: Maintain multiple copies of critical investigation materials
Access control: Limit access to sensitive information on need-to-know basis
Environmental stories often involve indigenous and traditional communities:
Community consent: Obtain proper permissions for documenting cultural practices
Cultural protocols: Respect traditional knowledge and sacred sites
Benefit sharing: Ensure communities benefit from investigation outcomes
Representation: Include community voices in meaningful ways throughout
Environmental investigations often require long-term commitment:
Tool longevity: Choose platforms with stable development and funding
Skill building: Invest in training and capacity development
Community ownership: Transfer tools and skills to local communities
Update protocols: Plan for ongoing data updates and maintenance
StoryMap, Juxtapose, Timeline (Knight Lab) - Free
Google Earth Engine - Free for research/journalism
A-Frame - Open source, free
Gephi - Open source, free
Omeka S - Open source, free (hosting costs apply)
Flourish - Free tier, paid plans from $79/month
Observable - Free public notebooks, paid for private
CARTO - Free tier, paid plans from $199/month
Kumu - Free public projects, paid for private from $39/month
Prezi - Plans from $5/month
Cesium - Commercial licensing required for some uses
Ushahidi - Hosting plans from $99/month
Grafana - Open source free, hosted service paid
Mapbox - Usage-based pricing, can scale to high costs
CARTO - Enterprise plans $1,200+/month
Scalar - Free at scalar.me, custom hosting costs vary
Knight Center for Journalism - Data Visualization Courses
Coursera - Data Visualization Specializations
DataCamp - Data Science for Journalists
Lynda/LinkedIn Learning - Visualization Software Training
NICAR (Investigative Reporters & Editors) - ire.org
Global Investigative Journalism Network - gijn.org
Environmental Journalists Association - sej.org
Knight Lab Community - knightlab.northwestern.edu
Stack Overflow - Programming help and troubleshooting
GitHub - Open source code and collaboration
Reddit Communities - r/dataisbeautiful, r/GIS, r/visualization
Twitter - Follow #dataviz, #envirodata, #gis hashtags
Social media shares and viral potential
Time spent on interactive visualizations
User interaction rates with data exploration tools
Media pickup and citation by other journalists
Policy changes influenced by the investigation
Government responses to documented environmental problems
Community action catalyzed by investigation
Academic citations and research collaborations
Website traffic and audience reach
Mobile usage and accessibility success
Load times and performance optimization
Tool adoption by other journalists and organizations
Ongoing data updates and maintenance
Community ownership of monitoring tools
Skill transfer to local organizations
Archive preservation and accessibility
This toolkit represents more than a collection of software. It is a framework for transforming environmental investigation from traditional text-based reporting into immersive, interactive experiences that engage diverse audiences and create lasting impact.
The "Saving the Osun River" investigation demonstrates how combining multiple visualization tools creates a comprehensive digital ecosystem that serves different stakeholders: StoryMaps for general audiences, technical maps for policymakers, interactive data for researchers, and real-time monitoring for communities.
Success in environmental visualization requires balancing technical sophistication with accessibility, scientific rigor with emotional impact, and immediate engagement with long-term sustainability. By starting with core tools and gradually building capacity, environmental journalists can create investigations that not only document environmental problems but actively contribute to solutions through compelling, evidence-based storytelling.
The climate crisis and environmental justice require new forms of journalism that can match the scale and complexity of the challenges we face. These tools provide pathways for creating the kind of impactful, immersive, and accessible environmental reporting our world desperately needs.
This toolkit is continuously updated based on emerging tools and community feedback. For the most current version and additional resources, visit the Saving the Osun River Project digital archive.