NATO Introduces Interactive GIS Platform to Visualize Global Operations
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has introduced “NATO on Duty,” a publicly accessible, interactive web map designed to present the alliance’s global activities in a visually engaging and easily navigable format. The platform is built on geographic information system technology developed by Esri.
Visualizing NATO’s Global Scope
The initiative aims to provide the general public with a clearer understanding of NATO’s operational footprint and institutional complexity. According to Pino Nobile, head of the Geo Section at NATO headquarters, the map was conceived as a way to demonstrate the organization’s diverse activities across multiple regions and operational domains.
Through a graphic and intuitive interface, users can explore NATO’s missions, ongoing operations, and relationships with allied and partner nations. The platform emphasizes both geographic distribution and functional diversity, illustrating how NATO operates across security, defense, and cooperative initiatives worldwide.
Built on ArcGIS Online
Development of the application leveraged NATO’s internal datasets in combination with ArcGIS Online, Esri’s cloud-based web mapping framework. The technology provides a scalable infrastructure for rapid deployment and accurate data visualization, making it well suited for public-facing digital applications.
The map integrates multimedia components such as video highlights and feature stories about member states. In addition to operational content, it also outlines NATO’s command structure, offering viewers insight into how the alliance is organized and managed.
NATO selected ArcGIS due to its efficient development architecture and ability to support dynamic web mapping capabilities for broad public access.
About NATO
Founded on April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance established under the North Atlantic Treaty. The alliance comprises 28 member countries across North America and Europe and is headquartered in Brussels. NATO’s mission centers on collective defense, crisis management, and cooperative security among member states.
About Esri
Since 1969, Esri has been a leading provider of GIS software solutions, enabling organizations to analyze and manage geographic information. Its technology is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations worldwide, including national governments, major metropolitan areas, Fortune 500 corporations, and thousands of academic institutions. Esri delivers integrated GIS solutions across desktop, mobile, enterprise, and cloud environments, forming a foundational platform for mapping and spatial analytics globally.
