NUKEMAP is an interactive map using Google Maps API and unclassified nuclear weapons effects data, created by Alex Wellerstein, a historian of science at the Stevens Institute of Technology who studies the history of nuclear weapons. The initial version was created in February 2012, with major upgrades in July 2013,[1][2][3] which enables users to model the explosion of nuclear weapons (contemporary, historical, or of any given arbitrary yield) on virtually any terrain and at virtually any altitude of their choice.[4] A variation of the script, NUKEMAP3D, featured rough models of mushroom clouds in 3D, scaled to their appropriate sizes.[5][6] NUKEMAP3D is no longer functional as Google deprecated the Google Earth plugin.
The computer simulation of the effects of nuclear detonations has been described both as "stomach-churning" (by Wellerstein himself) and as "the most fun I’ve had with Google Maps since… well, possibly ever" despite the admittedly abjectly grim nature of the subject.[7] Originally intended in part as a pedagogical device to illustrate the stark difference in scale between fission and fusion bombs, more than three million people as of 2012 have exploded some 30 million virtual nuclear warheads;[8] having gone viral, the increased popularity of the website necessitated a move to new servers.[5] The website averages five "nukes" per visitor.[2] According to the site's own counter, in November 2016 users had simulated over 90 million nuclear explosions.
The NUKEMAP was a finalist for the National Science Foundation's Visualization Challenge in 2014.[9]
See also[]
- Computer simulation
References[]
- ↑ "The NUKEMAPs are here | Restricted Data". 2013-07-25. http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2013/07/25/the-nukemaps-are-here/. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wellerstein, Alex (2012-05-04). "So Long, Mom, I'm Off to Drop the Bomb: A Case Study in Public Usage of an Educational Tool". http://wmdjunction.com/120503_nukemap_educational_tool.htm. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
- ↑ "Restricted Data: The Nuclear Secrecy Blog". http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
- ↑ Jones, Brian (2013-07-16). "This Scary Interactive Map Shows What Happens If A Nuke Explodes In Your Neighborhood". http://www.businessinsider.com/nuke-map-explosion-2013-7. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "NukeMap 3D: Google Earth Sim Lets You Model Nuclear Strikes On Any Location". 2013-07-23. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/07/23/nukemap-3d-simulation-_n_3638461.html. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
- ↑ "Interactive Nukemap Now In 3D - Slashdot". 2013-07-21. http://news.slashdot.org/story/13/07/21/1736217/interactive-nukemap-now-in-3d. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
- ↑ Drew Bowling. "NUKEMAP Uses Google Maps API To Let You Blow Up The Outside World". http://www.webpronews.com/nukemap-uses-google-maps-api-to-let-you-blow-up-the-outside-world-2012-02. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
- ↑ Terdiman, Daniel (2012-02-23). "Nukemap: Shall we play a game? | Geek Gestalt - CNET News". http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-57383763-52/nukemap-shall-we-play-a-game/. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
- ↑ "Nuclear Weapons Data Visualization Reaches Finals of National Science Foundation’s "Vizzies" Award". Stevens Institute of Technology. 2014-11-11. http://www.stevens.edu/news/content/nuclear-weapons-data-visualization-reaches-finals-national-science-foundation%E2%80%99s-vizzies. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
External links[]
The original article can be found at NUKEMAP and the edit history here.