Global Research Infrastructure for Religious Geography
View Source Code on GitHubA research platform for the systematic study of religious institutions, demographic patterns, and spatial analysis across multiple scales and temporal frameworks.
This project provides scholarly infrastructure for investigating the geographic distribution of religious institutions and their relationship to demographic, social, and temporal factors. The platform integrates multiple data sources and analytical frameworks to support rigorous research investigating the social consequences of religion.
Multi-scale temporal analysis of religious institutions worldwide
A production-ready research platform supporting large-scale spatial analysis of religious institutions. Built on proven academic infrastructure with WebGL acceleration for interactive exploration of global patterns across multiple temporal and spatial scales.
Census-integrated analysis with multi-level geographic units
Advanced analytical platform combining religious institution data with official census statistics. Supports multi-level analysis across Statistical Area 2 and Territorial Authority boundaries, with demographic integration for empirical research applications.
Worldwide dataset for academic research
Complete world-wide research dataset extracted from authoritative sources with systematic validation protocols. Designed for academic research requiring global geographic coverage with plans for integration of additional institutional types and demographic data sources.
Systematic extraction from OpenStreetMap using validated taxonomies for religious institutions. Quality validation protocols ensure consistency and accuracy across global datasets.
Multi-scale geographic analysis supporting research from local to global scales. Integration with administrative boundaries and census geographies.
Longitudinal analysis capabilities with particular depth in New Zealand context using official census data across multiple time periods (2006-2018).
Confidence scoring systems, source validation, and systematic error detection to ensure research-grade data quality for academic applications.
In 2018, Professor Joseph Bulbulia approached Nick Young to develop a global research platform for places of worship. Nick built the foundational prototype, establishing the infrastructure that has evolved into this resource.
Acknowledgment
We gratefully acknowledge Nick Young and the Centre for E-research at the University of Auckland for their foundational work and continued commitment to open science. Nick's pioneering development enabled our research infrastructure spanning 247 countries and territories.
OpenStreetMap Data:
This research utilises OpenStreetMap data under the Open Database License (ODbL 1.0). Proper attribution: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Derived databases distributed under ODbL consistent with licence requirements.
Official Statistics: Statistics New Zealand (CC BY 4.0), Various National Statistical Offices
For Citation: Please acknowledge this research infrastructure and underlying data sources in academic publications.