New York State Office of Cyber Security
Geographic Information Systems Clearinghouse
GIS Partnership Summary
Environmental Health Library
Partnership Purpose and Goal:
Problems in environmental health cross traditional jurisdictional and disciplinary
boundaries. Since environmental health problems are complex and
often operate at multiple scales they are often difficult to understand. Timely,
accurate, and integrated spatial information is a critical component
of environmental health literacy. Our partnership is building a
secure online spatial data library to combine information from multiple
organizations and to share that information policymakers and community-based
organizations. We will demonstrate the benefits of improved literacy
through pilot projects in the East and Central Harlem neighborhoods of
New York City. These demonstration projects will use the library
in designing effective solutions to urban environmental problems.
Participants and Resource Contributions
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2
Rabi Kieber, Sustainability Coordinator, Office of Policy and ManagementThe Sustainability program at EPA Region 2 is interested in creating opportunities for community-based projects designed to increase the both the health of East and Central Harlem residents as well as the physical environment. Region 2 has contributed resources to support the development of the virtual library and part of the 'eco-building block' component which focuses on on-the-ground improvements to the neighborhood streetscape.
Columbia University School of Dental Medicine
Dr. Ira Lamster, Dean
Dr. Stephen MarshallThe Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University
Dr. Mary Northridge, Associate ProfessorDr. Northridge has contributed her expertise in developing frameworks and models which support a multi-disciplinary and multi-scaled approach to urban planning, public heath and well-being. She has helped to identify, build and sustain a diverse team of project partners.
The University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab
Jarlath O'Neil-DunneThe lab is contributing its technical expertise and computer software equipment to create an user friendly library and a framework for viewing, storing and contributing to multi-scaled and multi-disciplinary datasets.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, East and Central Harlem District Planning Health Office
Dr. Andy Goodman
Dr. Cindy Gordon
Dr. Anjali TalwalkarThe District Planning Health Office (DPHO) has contributed local expertise on public health and the environment, specifically focusing on ways to overcome historical barriers and to support programs which are more community-based, accessible and multi-generational. The DPHO has been a host for meetings and has joined in neighborhood outreach.
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
Jennifer Greenfeld, Director, New York Tree Trust
Lisa Rosen, Trees for Public Health CoordinatorThe New York City Parks Department Trees for Public Health project is a community-based partnership to develop 'green' plans for increasing the number and viability of urban trees in communities with significant public health issues related to the physical environment. The project is contributing staff time to coordinate community sessions, collect local data and present information to decision-makers.
The USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Dr. J. Morgan Grove, Social Scientist
Erika Svendsen, Social Science ResearcherThe Forest Service is interested in understanding how resources such as trees and open space as well as social programs can be helpful in improving the lives, livelihood and legacies of urban populations. Specifically, the Forest Service researchers are contributing their time to participation in the on-going development of the data framework, community roundtables and support for the urban 'eco-building block' project.
The State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Geography and the National Center for Geographic Information Analysis
Seth Spielman, NSF IGERT Fellow in Geographic Information ScienceSeth Spielman is the former director of the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation GIS Lab. As a student employee of the United States Forest Service Seth Spielman will be compiling data sets for the data library.
The National Park Service - River, Trails and Conservation Assistance
Jerry Willis, Project DirectorContributing technical and community organizing support regarding issues related to neighborhood participation, open space and access to environmental resources.
Date Partnership Began: August 2006
Completed:
No
Deliverables:
This project includes four deliverables. The first deliverable, a spatial
data library, is the GIS component of this partnership. The second, third,
and fourth deliverable help translate the library into improved environmental
decision making. The data library will be developed in three phases
between August 2006 and August 2007. The library uses an ArcSDE
backend with an Internet interface and will allow users to access information
through direct download or a series of map templates and analytical models. The
geodatabase will be completed in December 2006. Library "patrons" and
"authors" will
be taught how to use the library through web-based tutorials and in-house
training sessions between December 2006 and August 2007.
The second deliverable is a series of community roundtables. The purpose of the community workshops is to provide users in targeted communities with training on how to utilize the interactive features of the library. Workshop participants will be asked to bring a specific project idea related to public health and the environment.
The third deliverable is a pilot tree planting program for one 'eco-block' which will include cluster plantings within street tree 'strips' to increase storm-water retention and increase canopy cover.
The fourth deliverable is a design competition to elicit design scenarios for eco-blocks.
Brief Summary of Partnership:
The general health of East Harlem’s residents ranked in the bottom
25% of all NYC neighborhoods. Their children are hospitalized for asthma
at greater rates than almost anywhere else in the country, and almost twice
as much as in the average NYC neighborhood. In addition, one quarter of
people living in East Harlem are obese and all residents are 2 times as
likely to die from diabetes as the average New Yorker. Put together,
poor health in East Harlem resulted in thousands of years of potential
life lost and one of the highest death rates in New York City. We
hope that integrated source of information on the conditions in East and
central Harlem will help stimulate and extend efforts to improve these
conditions.
The organizations that make up this partnership have been working in parallel in East and Central Harlem for number of years. The member organizations have data sets, contacts, as well as technical skills and expertise. Through the virtual spatial data library the partnership will collate these data sets and where possible capture technical skills and expertise into analytical GIS-based models. We currently have high resolution datasets describing land-cover, the urban built environment, networks of health providers, and the prevalence of childhood asthma. We hope to have this information integrated and online in a number of months.
Primary Contact Information
Seth Spielman - NSF IGERT Fellow in GI Science
NCGIA + SUNY Buffalo Geography Department
642 Taunton Place Buffalo, NY 14216
Phone :917-568-8731
E-mail: ses89@columbia.edu
Secondary Contact Information
Erika Svendsen - Research Urban Planner
United States Forest Service
290 Broadway, 26th Floor NY, NY 10007
E-mail: esvendsen@fs.fed.us