IN THIS MODULE YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT

• What is a map?
• What is GIS?
• What is geospatial data?
• What are coordinate systems?
• What is cartography?

INSTRUCTOR FOR THIS MODULE:

TIMOTHY NORRIS, Data Scientist

Email: tnorris@miami.edu, Phone: (305) 284-2826

Timothy Norris joined the University of Miami Libraries in August of 2014 as a Council of Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Norris' first years at UM included an environmental scan of research data management needs across the University's schools and colleges, the design and teaching of a research data management graduate seminar at the RSMAS campus, and collaboration on data intensive projects at the Center for Computer Science (now the Institute for Data Science and Computing - IDSC). Currently, as a Data Scientist with a joint appointment between the Library and IDSC, his interest lies in studying the flow of data throughout the entire research cycle from inception of the research question to the publication and preservation of the results. His own research focuses on geographic information systems (GIS) and geospatial data visualizations (cartography), participatory research methodologies, and how the sustainable governance of human, natural and informational resources intersect. The outcome of this work is to better understand the curation, management and governance of data resources and assets in research institutions at scales from local to global. This work forms part of a larger inter-disciplinary effort to provide data management services and support for digital scholarship at the University of Miami and beyond.

Prior to arriving at the University of Miami Dr. Norris' doctoral work focused on community based mapping and participatory research methods as tools to mediate public/private relationships centered on the management and governance of natural resources in the global south. Tim holds a PhD in Environmental Studies (a.k.a. geography and a little ecology) from the University of California Santa Cruz; his doctoral work was funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. In another life, Dr. Norris was a GIS technician and data curator for the University of California Industry-University Cooperative Research Program.

LECTURE

ASSIGNMENTS

1- Reading from: Making Maps (Krygier & Wood, 2016):

• Front matter (through page 18)
• Chapter 1 (pages 20 - 31)

2- Log into your ArcGIS Online Account

you should have received an invitation from "ArcGIS Notifications" -OR- you already have an account. Email tnorris@miami.edu if you have any trouble.

INTRODUCTION TO ARCGIS ONLINE (Tutorials)

CAPSTONE PROJECT

Throughout the semester, students will use the Little River Adaptation Action Area (LR AAA) as a living laboratory to understand, evaluate and assess the relationship between environmental hazards, social vulnerability, and urban resilience in the communities of the LR AAA. As the course progresses students will be introduced to techniques for identifying complex problems and providing recommendations based on resilience thinking. They will also be introduced to basic approaches for data science and data visualization.

There will be four phases for the capstone project loosely categorized as 1) literature review, 2) establishment of a focus area 3) data collection, and 4) the final capstone recommendations. The literature review and focus areas will be introduced on Sept 6th and the remaining phases will be introduced on Oct 4th. After the initial research phase for the literature review, groups will intersect the review topics, the information gleaned from the walkabout, the lectures and research to establish a focus area. Since the possibilities for improving LR AAA resilience will be many, students will formulate a focus area that can guide deeper research and proposals over the rest of the semester.

Once a focus area has been established, students shall synthesize their mapping and data collection work with the data science and visualization work to inform their group’s recommendations to Miami Dade County’s Office of Resilience.

Recommendations can be projects (for example, natural or built infrastructure) programs (such as enhanced outreach or engagement) or policy (like zoning changes or funding increases). Recommendations could have a mix or two (or even all three), should be aspirational but not wildly unrealistic and should be designed to increase the resilience of the people living in LR AAA and beyond. The recommendations must be based (in part) on data analysis at a minimum of two scales: the LR AAA and the county more broadly. A micro-scale analysis within the LR AAA could be a third scale. The recommendations should also include backup policy and programmatic inspiration, research and ideas that speak to the impact of your proposed intervention.