The Symbols of War

The cartographic symbols and graphic languages of traditional crisis maps are not adequate to show the variety of hidden, improvised and explosive contamination left by ISIS in Iraq after their defeat in 2017. The contamination is caused both by the amount of powder as well as the container — whether conventional ammunition or Improvised Explosive Devices including plastic containers, domestic objects, personal effects like cigarettes, and even toys. These irregularities and their instability have been inscribed in one open type font, Irregular.otf that is able to show the complexity and be adapted to large- or small-scale maps. It is free to download and use at www.thesymbolsofwar.com