June 2023 Summaries

Traffic Violence Rapid Response (TVRR) was formed in response to the tragic death of cyclist Jonathan Waters, who was killed by a speeding driver in Oakland, CA, highlighting the recurring issue of traffic violence. The group, led by Bryan Culbertson and Kuan Butts, aimed to raise awareness and prompt city action by organizing vigils and collecting collision data. They utilized Felt's collaborative mapping features to systematically document traffic incidents, demonstrating that such fatalities are not isolated occurrences. By incorporating data from the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) and Oakland Open Data portal, TVRR effectively visualized collision data, neighborhood boundaries, bike lanes, parks, and council districts, without the need for complex data processing, thus streamlining their advocacy efforts.

Traffic Violence Rapid Response (TVRR) faced challenges in documenting traffic fatalities and proposing solutions in Oakland, CA, following the death of cyclist Jonathan Waters in June 2022. In response to the tragic incident and the broader issue of traffic violence, TVRR, formed by Bryan Culbertson and Kuan Butts, sought to raise awareness and prompt city action. As they organized vigils and collected collision data, they turned to Felt for a systematic approach to map and analyze incidents. Using the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) dataset, Culbertson utilized Felt's collaborative features and intuitive interface to easily visualize collision data alongside neighborhood boundaries, bike lanes, parks, and council districts from the Oakland Open Data portal, without the need for complex data processing, thus facilitating their advocacy efforts.

Felt has enhanced its platform to facilitate seamless integration of geospatial data for team collaboration and sharing by introducing new features, including a QGIS plugin and an API. The QGIS plugin allows users to export their complex desktop QGIS projects directly into Felt maps, enabling online sharing and collaboration with colleagues, while maintaining the analytical capabilities of QGIS. The API offers organizations the ability to integrate Felt into their workflows more effectively, and an "Open In Felt" button is available for data publishers to let customers visualize data effortlessly. These developments aim to streamline the process of bringing diverse geospatial data into Felt maps, boosting accessibility and collaborative potential for users.

Felt has introduced new features to enhance its platform for visualizing, sharing, and collaborating on geospatial data, making it easier to integrate and manage data in maps. These updates include a new QGIS plugin that enables users to export QGIS projects directly to Felt, facilitating online sharing and collaboration. Additionally, data publishers can now add an "Open In Felt" button to visualize purchased data, and organizations can integrate Felt into team workflows using a new API. These enhancements allow users to leverage the analytical capabilities of QGIS while benefiting from Felt's collaborative features, transforming complex desktop projects into interactive, web-based maps with team permissions and real-time collaboration options.

Several innovative uses of mapping software, Felt, are highlighted through diverse projects ranging from environmental monitoring to urban planning. These projects include tracking illegal gold mining in the Amazon using satellite imagery, mapping air pollution in Hackney, London, and visualizing wildfires in the U.S. West. Additionally, Felt has been employed to analyze voter share changes in political constituencies, explore transportation walkability in Maryland, and categorize Hamburg's buildings by construction year. Other creative applications involve mapping potential meeting venues for the Groundwater Resources Association in California and visualizing parking policy violations. These projects showcase the versatility and utility of Felt in various fields, enabling users to visualize and analyze spatial data effectively.

Felt, a versatile mapping platform, is being utilized across various domains to visualize complex datasets and enhance understanding through interactive maps. Collaboration with Dead & Co has led to the creation of maps indicating Hipcamp sites near tour locations, while Vivek has used the platform to analyze voter-share changes across 152 constituencies, revealing electoral gains and losses through detailed maps. Joe Morrison employs satellite imagery to monitor illegal gold mining in the Amazon, highlighting ongoing activity. Designer Evan O'Neil creatively uses the platform for collaborative mapping, while Will Petty illustrates air pollution in Hackney, London. Jahiah Czebotar tracks parking policy violations, and Chris Amico, along with the MuckRock Foundation, maps wildfire data to accompany an article on the EPA's response to smoke. William Fedder presents walkability analyses of MTA and MARC stations, and Achim Tack categorizes Hamburg's buildings by construction year, showcasing the platform's ability to handle large datasets. Additionally, Angelica Rodriguez-Arriaga uses Felt's Grouping feature to plan venues for the Groundwater Resources Association of California's future meetings.