Geographic information systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing has great potential for local and global problem solving. These tools allow decision makers visualize the physical distribution, extent, or severity of problems. Below are a few maps that I have created.
The Ter Watershed
These maps show the extension of the Ter Watershed in Catalonia, Spain. The yellow dots in the second map show the location of small hydroelectric power plants. Together with the Catalan Water Agency, I looked at quantifying the social benefits of restoring minimum instream flows to the Ter River. This resotoration implied removing small scale hydro power generators or significantly reducing their water use. The full report can be read here.
This map used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to map out obesity rates by neighborhood in the City of Boston. We found that obesity was more prevelant in poorer neighbhorhoods. This map was created in the context of a hypothetical policy memo written for Mayor Thomas Menino making recommendations on how the city can address this public health issue. The memo was written with Peter Shorett and can be read here.
Remote Sensing
More recently, I have learned how to use satellite data with ERDAS Imagine.
With satellite data, I sampled points along the Misssissippi River and observed how spectral reflectance increased as the sample points moved downstream. This suggests that the water is more turbid as it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
