Keeping network maps accurate is a persistent challenge for research and education networks (NRENs), where infrastructure, services and traffic flows can change constantly. To help address this, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) has released TerraNova, an open-source network mapping and visualization software suite designed to automate the creation of accurate, up-to-date network maps.
Released on GitHub in April 2026, TerraNova enables network engineers and operators to generate both high-level and highly detailed network maps from a shared data source. The software is designed to provide a consistently accurate and up-to-date view of their network and to visualize the same data in multiple formats, for different purposes and audiences.
Once embedded into websites, customer portals, dashboards or presentations, TerraNova maps can refresh automatically, reducing the risk of outdated diagrams remaining in circulation. The platform also allows the same network data to be visualised in multiple formats for operational, planning and stakeholder communication purposes.
Several applications have been identified
Key features include automated data collection from existing sources, including Google Sheets and custom Python adapters connected to institutional network databases. Also, support for real-time and historical traffic visualisation through Grafana integration is available, just as is multiple geographical and logical network layout options. Further, reusable map definitions and templates can be tailored to different operational needs; while export support for SVG, Grafana and embeddable web formats is possible. Finally, automatic saving and archiving of map versions for historical reference is enabled.
ESnet teams have already identified a range of practical applications for TerraNova. Engineers designing research data flows have used the platform to rapidly create and refine network schematics with project stakeholders, reducing the time required to develop accurate visualisations and improving collaboration across teams.
Facilitating conversations across communities
Other ESnet groups are using TerraNova to better understand the interconnectedness of institutions participating in large-scale scientific projects, helping identify potential bandwidth constraints before they affect research workflows.
“Visualizing a network has always been hard, but doing it well provides a lot of benefits, especially in building understanding and facilitating conversations across communities that are not familiar with how a network works,” says Inder Monga, Executive Director of ESnet.
“We are pleased to offer this open-source tool to the national research and education networking community. We hope our colleagues find that TerraNova can serve as a single, trusted map resource that can be referenced, maintained, and updated automatically and thus help all of our networks serve science as seamlessly as possible.”
ESnet is the U.S. Department of Energy’s sole high-performance networking user facility, serving as the “data circulatory system” for tens of thousands of scientific researchers at all 17 national laboratories, 28 user facilities, and other scientific instruments in the U.S. and Europe, and peering with more than 270 research and education (R&E) and commercial networks.
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