1. A method for facilitating user collaboration and communication in a visual mapping system, the method comprising. tracking user presence in individual topics in the visual mapping system, wherein user presence is tracked for users that are online in the visual mapping system; displaying to an online user viewing a visual map an indication of any other online users presence in individual topics in the visual map; and providing an interface in the visual map through which the online user can initiate communications with any of such other online users.