Opte Project

The Opte Project, created in 2003 by Barrett Lyon, seeks to generate an accurate representation of the breadth of the Internet using visual graphics. Lyon believes that his network mapping can help teach students more about the Internet while also acting as a gauge illustrating both overall Internet growth and the specific areas where that growth occurs. It was not the first such project; others predated it, such as the Bell Labs Internet Mapping Project.
The project has gathered notice worldwide having been featured by Time, Cornell University, New Scientist, and Kaspersky Lab. In addition, Opte Project maps have found homes in at least two art galleries and exhibits such as The Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Science's "Mapping the World Around Us" permanent exhibit. To this end, prints of various Opte Project maps are available for purchase online.
At least 3 maps are shown on the Opte website each representing a visual snapshot of the Internet at a specific point in time. The first snapshot was taken in 2003 and the most recent "("as of August 8, 2017")" was taken in 2015.
All content is licensed under a Creative Commons license and while use of The Opte Image is free for all non-commercial applications, a license fee is required for all others.