The University of Oregon’s GIScience 2 students collaborated with the City of Albany, Oregon, to gather, organize, synthesize, and map geospatial information. Albany is interested in better understanding the segregation patterns of underrepresented demographic populations like racial/ethnic minority groups, low income individuals or families, people with disabilities, and seniors. GIS students used these potential segregation factors and compared them to access or availability of amenities and services. The students were divided into ve groups to cover a greater variance of ndings: Housing Patterns and Needs, Access to Opportunity, Segregation/Integration of Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups, Publicly Supported Housing Analysis, and Disability and Access Analysis.
City of Albany sta will be able to utilize this report to visualize spatial patterns of segregation, areas of concentrated populations, and potentially use this information as a reference in the future to promote greater integration.Students were divided into ve groups and focused on di erent areas of fair housing: Housing Patterns and Needs, Disparities in Access to Opportunity, Segregation/ Integration of Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups, Publicly Supported Housing Analysis, and Disability and Access Analysis. Within these categories, each student chose a speci c topic to focus on; individually, students compiled data, conducted spatial analyses, and created a map(s). In collaboration with City of Albany sta , students used existing city data, plans, market strategies, and maps as frameworks to create quality maps using Geographic Information System (GIS).
The fair housing group concentrations are de ned as:
1. Housing Patterns and Needs based on disproportionate opportunities for population or household characteristics such as tenure availability, race/ethnicity, income, family status, or housing age.
2. Disparities in Access to Opportunity measures the accessibility of certain population groups to living amenities such as transit, parks, schools, or grocery stores.
3. Segregation and Integration of Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups displays how racial/ ethnic groups are dispersed or concentrated, while also identifying racial/ethnic groups that may experience the highest level of segregation.
4. Publicly Supported Housing Analysis seeks to identify demographic patterns of residents who live in public housing or in surrounding areas.
5. Disability and Access Analysis is a spatial analysis showing where persons with disabilities are geographically dispersed or concentrated and what services are accessible, or within close proximity to where they live.
Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.
Sustainable City Year Program Contact Info
Megan Banks
Sustainable City Year Program Manager
mbanks@uoregon.edu
(541) 346-6395
University Faculty Contact
Nick Kohler
Geography
nicholas@uoregon.edu
Local Government / Community Contact
Anne Catlin
Senior Community Development Planner