Plotting Data Points
Using GIS systems and open-source data, I create maps to identify trends, investigate topics, and tell stories. For example, following a report that statewide petroleum tank inspection rates dropped dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, I mapped storage tank locations throughout the state to see what communities were most vulnerable to groundwater contamination.
For other investigations, I turn point data into heatmaps, to show where data clusters. For example, to analyze crime trends across Albuquerque, New Mexico, I mapped homicides. The maps revealed changing trends in where homicides occurred over time.
I’ve also used point mapping to visualize car crash data over time. After cleaning data from nearly 1,000 crash records, I analyzed trends in crashes near the University of New Mexico. The data revealed that disregard for traffic signals and driver inattention were common causes of neighborhood collisions.
Regional Analysis
For some investigations, I compare data between regions. For example, to see which neighborhoods voted for which candidates in the 2021 Albuquerque mayoral election, I used QGIS to plot votes within each precinct. The results showed that support for the winning candidate was clustered around the city’s university.
