Visual journalism for the most comprehensive investigation of data center impacts to date.
Working closely with Business Insider's reporting and editing team, we built the visual framework for an investigation revealing that 40% of US data centers operate in water-scarce regions and will soon consume more electricity than Poland used in 2023.
The centerpiece interactive map shows data center growth since the 1970s with scroll-controlled animation revealing power consumption by county. We developed a reusable Svelte system for map-based scrollytelling that handles different data types and interaction patterns. The water investigation features an animated river system map showing which tech giants operate in desert regions. The Northern Virginia story includes an audio scrubber comparing environmental sounds before and after data center construction.
Each story opens with a custom pixel-reveal treatment—a CSS grid animation where users control the reveal through scroll, symbolizing landscapes being permanently altered. We built these experiences as Svelte projects deployed to AWS, delivering embed codes that inject interactive experiences directly into Business Insider's CMS without requiring modifications.
Above: Scroll-controlled map showing data center growth and power consumption; Pixel-reveal treatment symbolizing landscape transformation; River system visualization in water-scarce regions; Audio comparison scrubber; National-scale power and water usage graphics.
AI Data Centers Investigation: The True Cost
Interactive map demonstration showing scroll-controlled data center growth visualization and integrated scrollytelling experiences.
Capabilities Employed
Here is how we did it
Interactive map demonstration showing scroll-controlled data center growth visualization and integrated scrollytelling experiences.
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