Advanced Spatial Analysis

final project

An analysis of the Northern Strand Community Trail
GIS3130_FinalProject.pdf (15.8 mb)

This project determines which sections of the Northern Strand Community Trail rails-to-trails project should be developed first based upon criteria of: population density, "pro-community" land use parcels, and low-income areas.

The resulting analysis is not intended for "real-world" application, but only to meet the class project requirements.

However, the Northern Strand Community Trail is a real rails-to-trails project currently in development. For more information or to get involved with this exciting project, visit www.biketothesea.com.

low-income areas redux

Block Groups eligible for Community Development funding
NorthernStrand_CDBG.pdf (139 kb)
Everett_CDBG.pdf (119 kb)
Malden_CDBG.pdf (140 kb)
Revere_CDBG.pdf (132 kb)
Saugus_CDBG.pdf (125 kb)
Lynn_CDBG.pdf (172 kb)

A better way to represent low-income areas (than in the analysis above) is to identify city block groups eligible for "Community Development" funding from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The maps listed above are the result of this analysis, following the instructions stipulated by the Federal HUD Community Development Block Group Program.

Interpreting the maps:
The yellow block groups (30s) are those with the highest eligibility for CDBG funding since the income level is only 30% of the Low/Moderate income for the Boston Area. The greener and bluer block groups are closer to reaching the Moderate Income level, and therefore more affluent.

class seminar presentation

Geodemographic Analysis
GeodemographicAnalysis.ppt (7.25 mb)

Geodemographic Analysis is the analysis of people by where they live (Sleight, 2004).

It is based upon the principles that:

Two people who live in the same area are more likely to have similar characteristics than two people selected at random.
Two areas can be identified in terms of the characteristics of the populace they contain, using demographics and other measures.

Applications of Geodemographic Analysis:

Business: Retail Management / Market Analysis
Government: Resource Allocation / Facility Planning