About
For over thirty years, our team has supported initiatives across healthcare, non-profit, government, business, and agriculture industries. With this experience, SparkMap is your tool for enhanced community impact.
Who We Are
SparkMap is a product of the Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES) and hosted by the University of Missouri. CARES affiliation to the University of Missouri Extension and the University of Missouri System provides a strong foundation for our technical infrastructure, access to applied research opportunities, and a welcoming work environment on campus.
Our Home
We are CARES (Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems) – a small and adventurous group of geographic information specialists, programmers, and data nerds. We love making maps, developing new data visualizations, and helping individuals and organizations figure out ways to do their work better. While many of our current projects are focused on health, over the past 25+ years we’ve been collecting, analyzing, and visualizing data related to the environment, agriculture, safety, education, and the economy. Most importantly, given our presence in Extension, we appreciate and understand the challenges and opportunities related to data collection and analysis in rural communities. We like partnering with like-minded organizations, building tools, and finding data that supports decision-making. Oh – and we also like coffee and Mexican food…A LOT!
Our Future
SparkMap is dedicated to continuing to provide free mapping and reporting tools that support data and case-making needs across sectors. Our subscription offerings are just the beginning of the value-added tools, data, and support we plan to offer as we grow and evolve. The dollars received from subscriptions will help us keep our technology up-to-date, develop new features, and continue to provide free data and tools when and where we can.