Map Layers

The below versions of the map illustrate how it appears when the other graduated color layers (population density and percent target age) have been activated.

Completed GIS CSCC Map

This map has been exported from ArcMap to ArcGIS online. I have shared it with Siena college as both a web map and web application for future editing. The three color coordinated layers include average income (orange), population density (blue) and the percent of population which is within the 15- 24 year old target age range (green). These colored maps are transparent in order to ensure that the base map remains visible. Therefore they should be toggled individually so as not to distort any coloring.

Color Map Example 1

The zip codes have been updated to only include those 3 which are covered under the grant. This color map shows the differing population densities of each.

Update 5

The project map has been updated to highlight the 3 zip codes which are encompassed by the CSCC grant. These areas are 12206, 12202 and 12210. Outside educational service points will be removed-- from this point forward only the services within these zip codes will be shown.

I also added the census data table for U.S. zip codes. The two tables are now joined so that the three selected zip codes have information such as population density, income, median age, etc associated with them. I can now move forward with making some color maps!

Weekly Meetup

Today I went over to ACE in order to sit down with Dr. Kassel and work out some project kinks. Population density, along with age and household income are definite features that will be added to the map. We agreed that a color map based on each of these will be the ideal way to portray the information.

This map is an ongoing project. Dr. Kassel is looking for a Spring and Summer student to continue working on it during this time. In order to ensure this I will be posting the map to web GIS online at the end of the semester. This way new service points can continuously be added and updated. Instead of involving the 15 or so highlighted zip code areas, this map will solely refer to the zip codes covered under the grant. These include 12206, 12202 and 12210.

Map Updates

A small subset of project data has been plotted in ArcMap. Educational services in the Albany area are shown as red points, labelled with the organization name. Within ArcMap, the information button allows you to click on these points in order to view additional content. This includes what type of educational service is provided, the cost, whether or not Siena is partnered with this organization, etc.

About 15 zip code areas have been selected within the Albany region. The selected regions are outlined in bold black and labeled with their corresponding names (Albany, Latham, etc). The educational service points fall within these areas.

Census data will be joined to the 'Albany Zip Code Areas' layer shown in the map's table of contents below. This will allow for the creation of multiple color schemed maps. For example, the map can feature things like population density and median age within each of the zip codes. Different layers will be able to be toggled to display this information. These layers will depict valuable information pertaining to CSCC's target population.

Streets have been selected as the base map for this project. Upon completion, this map will be published to ArcGIS online so that continued editing may occur over time. The map in its current form appears below.

Blog Post 2 - Contract

This Friday will be a meeting with the CEO of Trinity Alliance-- the organization at the forefront of this CSCC project. Currently, the following contract is on the table. The listed deliverables may change however post meeting.

ACE Establishment of Capital South Campus Center (CSCC)

4 Lincoln Square, Albany, NY

 This contract guarantees the following deliverables for this project:

·         A GIS map indicating the whereabouts of current educational resources and services within Albany. These include GED, ESL, workforce development and alternative high school programs. These resources will be mapped in relation to the CSCC location.

·         The CSCC targets 16-24 year olds. A population density map will be generated to show how many people currently reside near Albany’s already existent services, as well as the future CSCC, and how many of them are within this target age group.

·         If the data is available, a median household income layer will be included to show the economic status of the population currently inhabiting these areas. This will enable partners of the CSCC to determine who may demonstrate the most need for its services.

·         A final, colored GIS map and poster depicting all of these elements.

Student Signature ______________________________ Date _________________

Client Signature _______________________________ Date __________________

Blog Post 1B

 Project Proposal

Introduction

Siena College’s Academic Community Engagement (ACE) program centers on developing partnerships with the surrounding community. These partnerships serve a purpose—to address the needs of the Capital Region through continuous community engagement. ACE brings together students, faculty, staff and other community members to supply service to its community partners and enact change.

ACE is currently working on a larger project which seeks to establish a Capital South Campus Center at 4 Lincoln Square, Albany, NY. This is an educational center that will bring college-level classes to Albany's South End, targeting 16-24 year olds. This project answers the following question; what are the current educational resources available within this community? This project will map surrounding services such as GED and ESL opportunities, workforce development programs, alternative high schools, etc.  A GIS model will be used to display these services. The generated map will be shown to ACE’s community partners as a model of what educational services are available to the South End community already and as a tool to determine which services should be incorporated within the Capital South Campus Center.

Objectives

This project will create a map of  the educational services available within and around Albany's South End. It will do so using GIS. These services will inform the partners working on this project of what resources are out there and what they might include in the education center as a result. The GIS map will also incorporate a population feature within its assessment of these features. Specifically, 16- 24 year olds are being targeted. ACE and its partners are interested in discovering how many people utilize the already existent resources and how it related to their target class.

Methodology

This projects GIS analysis will utilize a regional map of the Albany area. Determining the community educational resources which are already out there however will require research. A map will be developed based on  the following;

A)    An overview of the South End region, possibly branching out into neighboring areas, with markers showing where educational resources are available.  Each marker will generate information relaying what the specific service entails, as well as who is offering it. These markers may be colored schemed according to the type of resource which it is. 

B) The markers can be taken a step further by showing the related population densities within the displayed area. For example, is our target population (16-24) well represented in a certain area? A graduated colors map would be useful to show where the target population is grouped in accordance with which services are already out there. This will also display the population makeup right at the soon to be Capital South Campus Center.

Data Sources 
This educational facility will be run by Trinity Alliance. Their partners include Hudson Valley Community College, U Albany, Albany Community Action Partnership and Tech Valley Communications, along with Siena College's Academic Community Engagement. The regional map of Albany can be obtained online and will include aerial photos, roads, buildings, etc. and be colored. Educational services already present in the area must be researched. I will contact organizations to assess what is out there. The partners specified above will also be useful data sources in this research process.

Work Plan

10/22/13: Signed project contract and regional data obtained.

10/29/13: Research and map educational services available

11/5/13: Research and map additional educational services

11/12/13: Research and map additional educational services

11/19/13: Create a population overlay

11/26/13: Additional details to address/fix as requested by partners

End of Semester: Project map completion and poster

Deliverables

·         Project Proposal

·         Start-up meeting with Dr. Ruth Kassel, along with continual communication

·         Project blog with weekly blog posts

·         Final colored pdf map on GIS and accompanying poster