Mapping the clouds: the matter of data centers

The social spatial geographies of telecommunications and their infrastructures have long interested scholars in the sciences, urban geography specifically. This paper focuses on data centers. Much effort has been placed preserving notion that centers are ‘clouds’, a terminology obfuscates real human cyberplaces. In this map-making exercise, we visualize sociopolitical centers, provoke reader to consider impacts residents environments. maps shown suggest four trends. First, hyperscale center owners building near large waterways, signifying shift location preferences. Second, stress local administrations, financing, availability upstream resources, as step up input needs. Third, development is state-led. Fourth competition for industries unfolds across multi-level governance context.