Borders From Above Are More Than Just Lines On A Map

International borders viewed from above show how different patterns of political, urban and agricultural development often collide.

1 minute read

July 18, 2016, 6:00 AM PDT

By jwilliams @jwillia22


US - Canadian Border at Chief Mountain

Carolyn Cuskey / Flickr

Can you identify two countries, side-by-side, just by their urban and agricultural patterns of development? As Emily Gilbert writes in Medium, viewing international borders from above can provide visual evidence of starkly different levels of economic and political systems. Farming practices on either side of the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic give cues about the wealth disparities between the two neighboring countries.

Using satellite images, Gilbert also notes the inventive infrastructural changes needed when two countries meet where road rules require drivers to switch what side of the road they drive on, such as the switch-over between Hong Kong and mainland China.

At borders, different laws, politics, and cultures come together. These disparities can manifest in many ways we can see from space. Countries can regulate many aspects of our daily lives, including one of the most mundane parts — our daily commutes. Different nations have different laws about which side of the road we drive on. We can see several instances where these laws change over borders, and it is interesting to look at the inventive infrastructure that has been developed to handle the lane switch.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 in Medium

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Chicago with river in foreground.

Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan

The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.

May 8, 2025 - CBS News Chicago

Close-up on e-scooters parked in painted designated parking area on city street.

E-Scooter Parking: A Guide

How smart planning — and ample designated parking — can end conflicts over shared scooters.

7 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of Bozeman, Montana with mountains in background.

‘It’s Been 50 years’: Public Transit Law Passes in Montana

Legislation would fix transportation district issue, allow for greater reach on city bus routes.

May 14 - Daily Montanan

Illustration of nighttime city with white lines connecting nodes to illustrate technology and connectivity

Top 10 Tech-Ready Cities

An index ranks U.S. cities based on their preparedness for the ‘smart city future.’

May 14 - Smart Cities Dive