Applying Area Cartograms to Visualize Sustainable Development Goals Indicators Based on Earth Observation Data

The objective of this study is to explore the applicability of area cartograms for the visualization of sustainable development indicator components, utilizing earth observation (EO) data. The analysis focuses on selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11 and SDG 13) and specific targets related to green urban areas and air quality (targets 13.2, 11.6, and 11.7). A comprehensive review of the relevant literature indicates that area cartograms are employed only sporadically in the context of SDGs monitoring, particularly at lower levels of territorial division (i.e., municipalities and counties). To address this gap, a series of thematic maps − including choropleth maps and irregular area cartograms − were developed. These visualizations are based on EO-derived datasets and supplemented with statistical information obtained from the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office of Poland. The analysis demonstrates that area cartograms provide an effective means of visualizing spatial disparities in variables such as urban green space availability and air pollution at the municipal and county levels. These visualizations enhance the interpretability of complex indicator structures and support more nuanced assessments of progress toward selected Sustainable Development Goals, especially in spatially detailed analytical frameworks.