Projects
Neighborhood Effects
Do the physical characteristics of neighborhoods influence to health and behavior? If so, how and how much? I am particularly interested in developing geographic perspectives (and tools) to explore the association between the structure of neighborhoods and individual health and well-being. My work in this area uses computational tools such as agent based modeling, microsimulation, and system dynamics. In a recent papers and presentations I have used REPASTJ an agent based modeling toolkit to explore how the operationalization of the concept “neighborhood” influences estimates of the association between the urban physical environments and health. With Enki Yoo and Crystal Linkletter I am working on a geostatistical simulation model of residential self-selection and neighborhood effects. I am working with Mary Northridge and Sara Metcalf on a dynamic model that aims to capture a diverse range of ecological and individual factors that bear on a specific health outcome in a particular population in New York City.
The National Children’s Study
I am an investigator at the Providence and Bristol County sites of the National Children’s Study (NCS). The NCS will track 100,000 children from before they are born until their 21st birthday, along the way collecting environmental and biological data about the children, their mothers, and their residential environments.
The 1880 Census
John Logan is directing a project to map the 1880 census at the individual level in 40 US cities. The result is a map that includes the residential location of each person in the city. These complex point patterns present a real opportunity to develop an unprecedented understanding the social geography of major American cities. With John Logan and Hongwei Xu I am exploring these rich data with the initial aim of understanding segregation and assimilation of Irish and German Immigrants.
Social Area Analysis, Data Mining, and GIS
A history of Social Area Analysis and an new approach using Self-Organizing maps (SOM). This work extends SOMs into the geodemographic arena and uses the SOM to develop insights on the relationship between the “social space” of the SOM and physical/geographic spaces in the City of New York.
Urban Form and Physical Activity in Atlanta
(Inactive) Collaborating with a group from the University of British Columbia, the CDC, and a private consulting firm working to understand the connection between neighborhood characteristics and individual physical activity.
Harlem Children’s Zone Asthma Initiative
The HCZAI is a successful longitudinal partnership between a Community Based organization, a Hospital, the City of New York, and Columbia University. For several years I served on the environmental and Evaluation Committees. I was involved in the day to day design and evaluation of the initiative. For more info click here.
Harlem Healthsheds
An effort to understand the social and environmental determinants of Health in East and Central Harlem by bringing together people and data from the US EPA, the US Forest Service, the City of New York, and Community based organizations.
Motor Vehicle Injuries in New Mexico
Worked with the Department of Industrial Engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo and the Center for Transportation Injury Research to develop a statistical model to predict the number of non-fatal accidents in the state of New Mexico. The model was geographically explicit- we used geospatial data to develop our estimates, and our results were reported for small geographic areas.
Baltimore Ecosystem Study - Public Health Working Group
The Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) an urban Long Term Ecological Research Site. I’m on an advisory group that to helps the BES integrate public health concerns into its research agenda.
Innovations in Justice Mapping
With the Spatial Information Design Lab at Columbia University and the Justice Mapping Center advocated for criminal justice policy reforms through mapping and data visualization.
GIS in the Social Sciences
Worked with the Institute for Social and Economic Research Policy (ISERP) at Columbia University to develop a university wide initiative to improve research and training in Geographic Information Science at Columbia. The Columbia University administration provided over $185,000 of support through the Academic Quality Fund.
9/11 Emergency Response Data Center
After September 11th I worked at the Emergency Mapping and Data center (EMDC), a secure facility on the West Side of Manhattan. At the EMDC we used a variety of data sources to communicate the evolving situation at ground zero to first responders, the press, and the public.
Disaster Resistant Caracas
Caracas location and physical characteristics make it vulnerable to a variety of natural hazards including mudslides and earthquakes. I was an assistant for an interdisciplinary team of students and faculty. We developed a plan to mitigate hazards through land use planning and innovative social programs.
City of Buenos Aires, Monserrat Section - Columbia University International Planning Studio
As a student I worked with a group of students and faculty at Columbia and municipal government officials in Argentina. We developed a plan to protect historically significant residential building through innovative zoning proposals and development incentives.