2023 Proceedings

This presentation describes the work of the USC Urban Trees Initiative over the past three years to describe the existing tree canopy in five low income Los Angeles neighborhoods - Boyle Heights, City Terrace, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, and University Park - with more people than trees, the geospatial data and services used to predict the city blocks and pedestrian routes that would benefit the most from planting new trees, and the visuals used to illustrate potential greening scenarios and solicit the local resident’s preferences for greening initiatives moving forward. 

This is a study of cognitive/image mapping exercises with houseless individuals, based on principles set forth by Kevin Lynch. Specifically, this study asked people to draw cognitive maps of their “daily lives” and then geospatially captured important information using Esri's ArcGIS Survey 123.  Our research found 13 recurring patterns, including that the houseless often  travel in regular routes throughout their day and parks and alleys are important. This work can ultimately help improve the design and planning for shelters and services.

The University Alliance connects communities to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to solve community-identified challenges. One such project involves 11 courses working to improve conditions of the Koshkonong Creek located in an agricultural watershed in Dane and Jefferson Counties, WI. Courses tackle topics including: stakeholder engagement, conservation planning, watershed governance, green infrastructure, hydrology, and land use change. Here, we will describe the challenges and benefits of utilizing ArcGIS Hub, StoryMaps, and Geoplanner to organize and empower this study.   

Deployment of clean, renewable energy at scale is a critical strategy to combat climate change.  At the same time, we are seeing growing losses from natural hazard impacts as climate change increases the severity of natural catastrophes. While renewable energy deployment is key to achieving our climate change goals, the renewables industry is not immune to these losses. While there is not one singular approach to incorporating hazards and climate change information into development and operations, we will share a GIS-based, data driven methodology employed to mitigate potential losses.

The increase in demand for fresh and processed coconut fruits on a worldwide scale can help Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean, provided sufficient investments to develop and broaden the agricultural sector. By joining local, regional, and global value chains, thousands of smallholder farmers may significantly increase profitability. As such, a mapping prototype site suitability study was carried out using a geospatial management approach for a Coconut Field Gene bank in Wilmington, St. Thomas - Jamaica W.I, in preparation for the implementation of a conservation management system.

Four Corners is a rural area between Orlando and Tampa. Until recently, it has been predominantly agricultural and natural landscapes serving as a critical link within the Florida Wildlife Corridor where threatened species need the natural habitat to survive. The landscape is rapidly developing and critical habitat is disappearing. Land Use Planning is necessary to identify areas for development and conservation. This project envisions a unified process using scenario comparisons to develop a comprehensive plan that balances both population growth and environmental conservation.