2026-09-01 –, Conference Management Room6
Japan has witnessed a surge in human-bear interactions, raising concerns about public safety and wildlife conservation. This phenomenon can potentially be traced back to dual pressures of climate change, urbanization significantly altering bear habitats and food sources.
Urbanization and agricultural expansion in hilly and mountainous regions have led to significant habitat loss for bears. In Japan, areas like the Japanese Alps and the mountainous regions of Honshu and Shikoku have experienced extensive deforestation, reducing bear habitats and pushing them toward human settlements.
This cinematic conversation will explore how data visualizations can illuminate these complex dynamics and enhance our understanding of the human-wildlife conflict. By analyzing geographic and temporal datasets related to bear encounters, habitat loss, and shifting climate patterns, we can identify critical areas where interventions are necessary.
Average temperatures have risen by approximately 1.4°C over the past century, with projections indicating further increases. This warming trend has led to more intense typhoons and heavy rainfall, resulting in elevated flooding and landslide risks. Coastal areas are facing rising sea levels, threatening ecosystems and infrastructure. Agricultural productivity is also declining due to heat stress and erratic rainfall, leading to economic challenges for farmers.
The bear's encroachment into urban areas is not simply an inconvenience; it serves as a poignant reminder of the fragile balance we have disrupted requiring us to reflect on our responsibilities as stewards of the environment before we find ourselves unwittingly cohabiting with wildlife in ways we never anticipated.
We will explore the intersection of climate change, urbanization, and wildlife interactions through the lens of spatial data visualization. Using Japan's recent surge in human-bear encounters as a case study, we will utilize open-source tools to analyze and visualize the effects of habitat loss, urbanization and climate science.
Attendees will gain practical skills visualizing data live utilizing QGIS, Blender, Cesium and Unreal Engine. The goal is to experience the power of immersive storytelling through spatial simulations to build interactive 3D maps that provide a real-time view of bear movements and human developments in Japan, allowing for a dynamic exploration of the spatial relationships and trends at the edge of urbanization and ecological systems impacted by resource reallocation and changes in climate.
https://cesium.com/platform/cesium-ion/
https://www.blender.org
https://qgis.org
https://fukazawa-lab.github.io/japan-bear-map/akita_en.html
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
The ability to use open source 3D mapping tools such as Blender, QGIS and Unreal Engine integrated with Cesium Ion (no code or python scripting in Blender, or QGIS) in writing powerful narratives is essential for leaving audiences with not only agency but access to the resources they need to build out their next storytelling with data platform.
I make my conference contribution available under the CC BY 4.0 license. The conference contribution comprises the abstract, the text contribution for the conference proceedings, the presentation materials as well as the video recording and live transmission of the presentation:
Bonny is a dynamic quantitative storyteller facilitating narratives at the intersection of geospatial data science, climate and sustainability.
Highlighting place and location as memory, audiences explore our interactions with ecosystems revealing that what appears completely factual is often, not factually complete. Recognized as a leading voice in thinking beyond words to illuminate climate science and the human impact on our planetary boundaries, Bonny describes storytelling as where perception and truth create friction. Her expertise transforms raw data into compelling narratives that drive impactful decision-making.