Join the third Rbanism edition of the #30DayMapChallenge this November.
Register nowThe #30DayMapChallenge
This November, join the Rbanism community for the third edition of the #30DayMapChallenge!
The #30DayMapChallenge was started in 2019 by Topi Tjukanov, a Finnish cartographer. It’s a daily cartography and data visualization challenge aimed at the spatial community, where every day throughout November a different theme is set and participants create a map or visualization based on that theme and share it on social media using the hashtag.
The Rbanism twist: maps made entirely in R, published on our repo on GitHub (see the 2024 edition here and the 2025 one here), alongside the code. We share the topics and work on the maps together.
It’s a fun, low-pressure way to sharpen your spatial data, cartography, and coding skills, no matter your experience level.
Why join?
Build your portfolio
One or two polished maps, made from real data and your own code, that you can show off on GitHub, LinkedIn, or in your next job/PhD application.
Join the community
See how map lovers tackle the same themes in totally different ways, and pick up tricks you’d never find in a tutorial.
Practice on real problems
Work with actual spatial datasets, the same kind you’ll use in thesis work or future urban/climate projects.
Level up your R skills
{sf}, {ggplot2}, {tmap}, and whatever else you want to try — one focused project, zero pressure to be an expert.
You’re not doing it alone
We kick off together, share the topics and learning materials, and celebrate everyone’s maps on Rbanism’s socials.
Code like a pro
Build habits — clean, documented, shareable code — that make your work reproducible and easy for others to build on.
Low commitment, real payoff
Pick a day or two that speaks to you and make something you’re proud of. No need to do all 30.
How it works
- We meet on the 23rd of October to kick off the challenge (Faculty of Architecture, TU Delft, Berlagezaal 1, and MsTeams)
- We share the topics, learning materials and examples
- We upload the maps and the code on the day of the actual topic (or before!)
- We share the maps on our social media (Instagram and Bluesky) with the hashtag #30DayMapChallenge. You can do it on yours too, and tag it so the Rbanism community can - find and celebrate your work
- When: Throughout November
Questions or want to team up? Contact rbanism@tudelft.nl
Challenge Kick-Off program (tentative)
Berlagezaal 1 / Ms Teams (link will follow)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 13:00 | lunch |
| 13:30 | lecture Mark Padgham |
| 14:30 | kick off #30DayMapChallenge |
| 15:30 | break |
| 16:00 | Urbex book club |
Ready to map with us? Register for the challenge and the kick-off.
Register nowDaily themes
Every day of November has its own theme, set by the #30DayMapChallenge. Pick the ones that speak to you!
Points
A map challenge classic. Map with points.
Lines
A map challenge classic. Map with lines.
Polygons
A map challenge classic. Map with polygons.
Clusters
Clusters of something. Hotspots, groups, things that gather together.
Senses: Sight
How do you see something? Maybe map a viewshed?
Vintage
Spin up your time machine and do a map which looks like a historical map.
10 minute map
You have no more than 10 minutes to complete this map.
Utopia
A map of something which could be.
Urban-rural
Urban or rural. Cities and countryside.
Prompting only
Make AI work for its money and produce something from start to finish.
Senses: Sound
How do you hear something? How do you map a soundscape?
Power
Power as in nuclear power? Or physical power or influence?
Interactions
Interactions between things, or maybe the result would be an interactive map.
Borgesian map
A map so detailed it becomes the territory.
Inside out
Inside out, upside down. Something on this map is not quite right.
Collaborative map
Do a map with a friend, colleague or a stranger.
Light & dark
Play with visual effects. What can you map with just light and shadows?
NULL
Senses: Smell
How do you map things which your nose can sense?
Hexagons
Hexagons, the good old bestagons.
OpenStreetMap
The awesome data source for mapping. You can also use this day to edit OSM.
Projections
The different ways of representing a globe on a flat surface.
Senses: Taste
Food, drink or something else which you can taste.
Network
Route network, transit network, human network or something completely different.
Is this a map?
Stretch the limits of maps and blend your map with an artwork.
Water
About 71% of the Earth's surface. That wet thing, you know?
New tool
Try out a new tool in your mapmaking workflow.
Senses: Feeling
The most abstract of the senses series. How would you map a feeling?
Raster
Do something cool with pixels.
Pen & paper
Time to wrap up the challenge by closing your laptop for a while.