first off i know this will likely be to hard to implement into the game but its a idea that has been on my head since alpha 6 and may even change the game quite a bit and some people i know may not like that but i thought it would be really cool to see done.
using the world map as a kind of strategy map so you could see other fractions bases such as outlander towns and pirate outpost just to give you a scenes of immersion so for example the outlander town in the north sends groups of visitors or patrols from the north when they enter your colony. but this could be expanded on even more such as having trade routs on the map and sending your own trade caravans out maybe even raiding party's.i want suggest a lot more but i thing i will be getting to far ahead of myself :D.