Ecosystems
Ecosystem maps show how organizations, institutions, infrastructure, initiatives, and participation pathways connect within a place-based system.
Place-based systems and civic infrastructure
Ecosystems in Systems Atlas map the physical and civic environments people must navigate in order to understand how public systems, institutions, infrastructure, and coordination pathways fit together.
These maps are not directories or blog posts. They are structured orientation layers that help make complex environments easier to see, interpret, and act within.
Current ecosystem example
Madison Civic Infrastructure
A place-based ecosystem map of civic infrastructure, coordination hubs, public systems, and institutional relationships across Madison and Dane County.
What ecosystem maps make visible
Ecosystem maps help clarify how public systems connect across agencies, institutions, infrastructure, programs, and participation pathways.
Actors and institutions
Public agencies, civic organizations, anchor institutions, nonprofits, utilities, planning bodies, and other participants in the system.
Coordination hubs
Organizations or structures that connect work across departments, jurisdictions, sectors, or initiatives.
Infrastructure and systems
Physical, civic, environmental, transportation, public health, housing, service, and digital systems that shape how people move and act.
Participation pathways
Ways residents, organizations, agencies, and institutions can engage with or influence the system.
Cross-system relationships
Connections between transportation, health, land use, climate, housing, water, public services, and regional planning.
Structural gaps and friction points
Areas where visibility, coordination, access, responsibility, or participation may be unclear.
How ecosystem maps are used
A Systems Atlas ecosystem map can support orientation, coordination, research, public understanding, strategic planning, and cross-sector conversation.
- help people understand the environment they are inside
- show how institutions and systems connect
- identify coordination patterns and participation routes
- support conversations between organizations and public actors
- create a durable reference layer for future mapping work
Related Systems Atlas mapping category
Ecosystem maps focus on place-based civic and physical systems. Organizational Landscapes focus on institutional environments, workflows, governance, and cross-department coordination.