Maplecroft Maps… could be done open access?

Juan Freire has saved one bookmark in his delicious an application called Maplecroft Maps

Maplecroft maps is a highly visual, web-based resource which contains detailed country information for over 200 states and maps key social, economic, environmental and political issues and their significance to business and society.

This innovative tool is designed to raise awareness amongst corporations, government and non-governmental organisations, academics, students and the general public of how an organisation’s operations interact with wider society, and how the risks and opportunities generated can be responsibly managed through stakeholder engagement and partnership.

For each specific issue, the map features:

• A unique index – designed by Maplecroft, measuring the global distribution of risk and opportunity;

• Country shading – illustrating the pervasiveness and risk ranking of the issue being mapped;

• In-depth analysis – emphasising the importance of each issue and its impacts and significance to business and society in general;

• Traffic light system – indicating whether the indicators relevant to the issue have increased, decreased or remained the same as in previous years;

• Hotspots – highlighting endemic risk within a country in respect of specific issues;

• Flashpoints – highlighting particular incidences of risk in respect of specific issues;

• Spotlights on business engagement – highlighting engagement by business in respect of managing specific issues;

• Case studies – positive and negative examples of how companies have managed the challenges that they have faced.

The interactive map tool itself is regularly updated with new features to make it easier and more enjoyable to use – learning must be a pleasure. New issues are added to the tool at regular intervals, as well as enhancements and updates to existing issues, adding depth by incorporating new research, data, case studies and policy developments as they become available.

This application includes maps with relevant information – index related to many issues (including Health & Safety and Education) but as a private profit initiative you have to pay for the resources. Would it be possible to construct those kinds of applications in a collaborative and open content project? Is open collaboration possible at such a scale? Should international organizations lead or fund those kinds of initiatives and make them open?