Mapping Data Centers: A Fragmented Undertaking

An investigation into who maps data centers worldwide, and why no one has the full picture. Drawing on private registries, public regulators, academic research, and citizen collectives, the piece surveys the actors tracking these facilities and the obstacles they face: opacity, inconsistent definitions, and a pace of change that outstrips any snapshot. An interactive map accompanies the text, locating the initiatives surveyed alongside a few representative data centers.