02 / APPLICATIONS

Questions worth connecting.

Four illustrative issue maps show how connected evidence can help identify causes, trace effects and locate opportunities for action. They are examples of GraphKind’s approach, not claims of completed client engagements.

Plastic from cradle to grave

Plastic moves through raw material extraction, production, packaging, sale, use and disposal. Leakage at each stage can become litter on streets, enter drains and rivers, and reach the sea.

CONNECTED PATH / NODES + EDGES

Raw materials → production → products → use → waste → streets → rivers → sea

A connected map can show where waste escapes the system, who has influence at each stage and which interventions could prevent it before it reaches the water.

Illegal wildlife trade

Illicit wildlife goods cross habitats, markets and national borders through a network of intermediaries, transport routes and couriers.

CONNECTED PATH / NODES + EDGES

Source habitat → brokers → couriers → border crossings → markets

Mapping the flow can expose recurring routes and points of coordination, helping investigators and conservation teams target disruption while protecting sensitive information.

AI data centres and natural resources

Data centres rely on electricity, water, land and cooling infrastructure. Their effects extend beyond the site boundary into local ecosystems and communities.

CONNECTED PATH / NODES + EDGES

Compute demand → energy → water → land → local impacts

Connecting demand, resource use and place can help assess cumulative pressure and make trade-offs visible before expansion decisions are made.

Pollution in UK rivers

River pollution has multiple possible sources, pathways and effects, from agricultural runoff and sewage releases to industry, habitat damage and public health concerns.

CONNECTED PATH / NODES + EDGES

Sources → catchments → waterways → habitats → communities

A graph can connect monitoring results to upstream activities and downstream effects, making it easier to identify plausible causes and test where action may matter most.