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Man walking with face mask on and the words "Remote Mapping?"

As our nation moves to recognizes and combat racial injustice while also recovering from COVID-19, you might be looking for ways to make a difference in both areas— and you can! Here are 5 ways to fight racial injustice and COVID-19 using geospatial resources available from our Auraria Library professionals and beyond.

What is Geospatial Data?

“Spatial can be special,” said Diane Fritz, the Auraria Library Geospatial Services Specialist recently featured in Popular Science for her work in the field. “We’re used to thinking about data over time, but we should also think of data over space to get a complete picture.”

In other words, when we use any information in combination with location data (think about mapping) it falls into the field of research called Geospatial Science. You’ve most likely used geospatial data when you used an app to find your favorite coffee shop. The data for your coffee shop hours and services is paired with location data on a map to help you see that data in a space— it becomes geospatial data!

How am I using Geospatial Data every day?

“Every time location data helps you do something more efficiently, geospatial technologies are at play,” said Fritz, “If you’re using, say, the RTD Next Ride app— that satellite communicating where you are is helping the app show you that geospatial information.”

You might be thinking only of Google Maps for geospatial data, but scientists and the public have access to a large variety of resources like satellite imagery, census data, water resources, and OpenStreetMap to conduct research on just about anything— from climate change, to emergency responses, to even bike paths.

Census data is extremely important for research in social justice issues. That data is being collected this year with the 2020 Census.

Geospatial data doesn’t just appear on its own, scientist and volunteers using and creating geospatial data are the modern-day explorers. They spend time in platforms like OpenStreetMap charting areas, labeling lesser-known areas, and so much more— and you can too!

Now, geospatial data is being used to fight racial injustice and COVID-19. These projects need volunteers like you who are ready to make a difference in a way you probably didn’t think about.

“Geospatial research is one aspect of data science that has simple to complex applications in endless sectors.”

Diane Fritz, Auraria Library

Support Racial Injustice Awareness Efforts

Mapping Prejudice – Minneapolis, MN

In Minneapolis, ground zero of the current racial injustice awareness efforts after the death of George Floyd, Geospatial

professionals in the Borchert Map Library are mapping racial prejudice and how it created a barrier for people of color seeking safe and affordable housing with a geospatial project called Mapping Prejudice.

“Laying out the reality of racial covenants in the Minneapolis area, as Mapping Prejudice does, and exposing other data that highlights inequities in our society is the first step in galvanizing effort to solve these problems,” said Fritz.

Man with face covering outside

The project is looking for volunteers to help review area housing real estate deeds in Minneapolis to see if they contain racial covenants. These are then mapped using geospatial data to better see the resulting systematic racism.

By volunteering to take part in this project, you can support racial injustice awareness efforts in Minneapolis no matter where you are.

Featured Resources – Auraria Library

If geospatial science isn’t something you’re ready to dive into, try this month’s Featured Resources page for hand-picked resources on anti-racism to better your own understanding of the issues of race. By increasing your own knowledge of the problem, you can better help find solutions.

Research Guide – Auraria Library

A page full of resources, like our Featured Resources page, might leave you wondering where to start. That’s where this Research Guide comes in handy. A work in progress, the guide will help you find resources on racism, anti-racism, and more.

Our librarians pledge to continue, as we always have, to provided resources on the history and impact of racism in our country. That includes purchasing new materials on the topic and keeping both the Featured Resources page and Research Guide updated with new purchases.

Support COVID-19 Awareness Efforts

Sidewalk Widths – New York City, NY

Denver / Auraria Campus sidewalk mapping with polygon layers

A well-known recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us to keep six feet of distance between ourselves and others when we’re out and about, but how do you know if there’s enough space in the first place?

Sidewalk Widths NYC is harnessing geospatial data to map out the widths of sidewalks in New York city. This data will help people map out the best sidewalks in the city for commuting while keeping the recommended six feet distance.You can share this tool with others you know who might be living in or going to NYC.

You can also explore the data portals many cities host to see if there is a sidewalk database for an area you’re interested in. For example, Denver has a data layer of sidewalk shapes on their portal.

Maptime Mile High Meetup – Boulder/Denver, CO

Maptime Mile High Meetup logo

Geospatial data comes to the rescue again here in Colorado with the Maptime Mile High Meetup. Fritz leads this gathering of volunteers who meet to tackle different projects listed by the non-profit Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team. The website posts tasks volunteers need to tackle to help in their geospatial work.

“There are so many different technologies that can help give perspective to these spatial questions and projects. It’s like a candy store trying to pick which technology to use,” said Fritz, “The key is picking the right flavor for the issue at hand.”

The “flavor” Fritz and her group at Maptime Mile High is using OpenStreetMap to tackle COVID-19 at their next virtual meeting on July 21, 2020.

Join the meetup to make a difference in our community and the world.

Learn More

Headshot of Diane Fritz

As the Auraria Library geospatial services specialist, Diane Fritz aims to help all those on the Auraria Campus and beyond with geospatial data. She’s happy to show students, faculty, and staff how best to implement the practice of using geospatial data in their research and everyday life.

“One of the aspects of my job is teaching people how to contribute to geospatial data and use it in their research,” said Fritz, “Spatial is, by definition, everywhere!”

Visit the Auraria Library’s Geospatial Services page or Contact Diane Fritz to get started: diane.fritz@ucdenver.edu

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Photos by cottonbro from Pexels

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