New Orleans Neighborhood Analysis Project

What is NONAP?
New Orleans Community Information System (NOcis)
New Orleans Alternative Breaks
In The News
Reports & Research
GIS Resources
Community Data & Related Work
About the Project

picture of image in 9th wardWhat is NONAP?

The New Orleans Neighborhood Analysis Project is a volunteer activity to support the active recovery of New Orleans by providing technology solutions by gathering primary and secondary data that can be turned into sustainable/expandable and/usable geospatial information. The technology solution includes training on how to collect, manage and analyze community demographic, economic and housing data that can be mapped using neogeography (mashup) and advanced internet mapping services (IMS).

The New Orleans Neighborhood Analysis Project (NONAP) will be a comprehensive website that provides access to static and interactive data, reports and resources for community based organizations, academics and professionals to aid in the recovery of New Orleans, Louisiana.

The NONAP website will be a portal that provides access to:

• New Orleans Community Information System (NOcis) interactive mapping website. • General and NONAP Reports and Resources related to recovery activities. • NONAP ‘Best Practices & Guides for Community Mapping & Geospatial Analysis.' • NONAP maps and market area neighborhood profile reports. • Technical guides for geographic information systems (GIS) using ‘Place and Image Recovery’static and interactive map soft/hardware. • Introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) training and courses.

There are a number of NONAP program goals including:

• Community organizing in virtual and place-based communities. • Identification of pre-existing socio-economic and environmental conditions that are more visible post Hurricane Katrina. • Enhance existing resources available for community advocates and government officials to discuss the on-going rehabilitation progress in priority project areas. • Provide neighborhood and community based organizations with free mapping services that can be used for their day-to-day operations or for specific grant or policy analysis initiatives. • Assist community members and/or advocates with information to promote community rights through shared action. • Provide a ‘voice’ for the community without interpretation or bias. • Support rebuilding hope and community hope through comprehensive planning of housing, health, education and other publicly supported services. • Minimize the duplication of data, resources and information used by community, municipal, professional and academic research teams. • Provide students and community volunteers with a service-learning opportunity. • “DO GOOD”!

NONAP ~ new website coming! The new website is under construction and will feature collaboration tools and more New Orleans data resources.. Updates in December 2007!

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New Orleans Community Information System (NOcis)

The New Orleans Community Information System (NOcis) includes the development of technologies that respond to identifying, collecting and displaying the active recovery of properties in New Orleans using neogeography (static) and internet mapping services (interactive). The development of data collection protocol and processes will support the creation of an image and recovery conditions database. The maintenance of the overall NOcis (internet mapping service) data repository will supported through intermediate storage spaces for images (e.g. Flickr) and images/waypoints/maps (e.g. Platial/MapBuilder) for integration with the NONAP website. NOcis will use ArcGIS Server technology for internet mapping services.

Prior Research

In the Spring/Summer of 2007 several pre-research projects were conducted that set the stage for the New Orleans Neighborhood Analysis Project (NONAP) and the New Orleans Community Information System (NOcis). Outlined below are samples of research conducted by Cornell students with the support of community volunteers who examined issues related to the Road Home program and the recovery of New Orleans. Many thanks to all who provided these resources that will be part of the Spring 2008 collaboration between the City of New Orleans IT/GIS Department, Common Knowledge and the University of New Orleans/Department of Planning & Urban Studies.

The 'Paving the Road Home' summary paper by Mohamed Khairul Anwar, Efrem Bycer and Evelyn Israel examines the Road Home program and other community resources for the redevelopment of New Orleans. Spatial analysis of 'adjudicated' properties and how to maximize their use in the 9th Ward is examined.

Additional research was presented in the report/powerpoint entitled 'Paving the Road Home: Laying the Foundation for the New Orleans Neighborhood Analysis Project' by Mohamed KhairulAnwar, EfremBycer, Evelyn Israel, Alicia Hahn and Sam Strong. Issues related to prioritizing redevelopment areas in the 9th Ward by ACORN Housing were considered through geospatial analysis and mapping.

Projects in Development

NeoGeography AFB using MapBuilder

We are in the process of completing the 'mash-up' of all Road Home (Option 2 and 3) properties surveyed during the AFB. Below are two MapBuilder websites that contain the per property Road Home funding allocation, FY'07 real estate valuation assessment and a property image as of October 20-21, 2007. We are also testing the functionality of a similar neogeographic website, Platial, with the Road Home properties. We would like to obtain your feedback on the 'ease of use' for both MapBuilder and Platial. The Platial website is under construction but should be available by December 1, 2007. Email your comments and/or questions to mmt7@cornell.edu.

A modified use guide is provided below. The Mapbuilder tutorial: http://www.mapbuilder.net/News.php.

Important: Read Disclaimer below.

"MapBuilder Road Home Property Use Guide" Draft v2 Click here!

Road Home Properties (Map Set #1)

MyMaps at MapBuilder.net

Road Home Properties (Map Set #2)

MyMaps at MapBuilder.net

MapBuilder Road Home Property Database.xls

Darin Acosta Road Home Field Map Book (sample, only).

MapBuilder Sample:

map sample 1

 

City of New Orleans Demolition List Image Survey - See Alternative Spring Break "Project 1700".

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New Orleans Alternative Break (ASB: March 17-20, 2008)

The New Orleans Neighborhood Analysis Project (NONAP) is a volunteer activity to support the active recovery of New Orleans, Louisiana. A core NONAP goal is to provide geospatial training through the use of global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) technologies that could significantly enhance the recovery process and serve as a model for future community driven planning & economic development efforts.

The Alternative Spring Break includes two (2) pre-field event training workshops and a New Orleans 'on-the-ground' survey from March 17-20, 2008. The first training workshop was a preparatory event for volunteers who will participate in the New Orleans Neighborhood Analysis Project "Alternative Spring Break" (NONAP-ASB) in March, 2008. Nyack College team has agreed to provide 'data mining' support by conducting research on the "Project 1700" properties that are currently on the City of New Orleans tear-down list. The analysis of the location and value data will be used for a collaborative project between the University of New Orleans Department of Planning & Urban Studies, and the neighborhood organization - Common Knowledge with the support from the City of New Orleans IT/GIS "Community on One Page". This Spring 2008 community-university collaboration will integrate the (Fall) image inventory into an interactive online mapping resource within the New Orleans Community Information System (NOcis).

Workshop #1: November 10, 2007 "Using Web Services & NeoGeography for Community Mapping"

Workshop #2:

The University of New Orleans Library will host the 'NONAP GIS Technology Workshop' the will include a hands-on workshop using global positioning system (GPS) units, an introduction to geographic information systems using ArcGIS9.2 to convert waypoints to shapefiles, NeoGeography using MapBuilder/Platial and a review of the 'New Orleans Neighborhood Analysis Project Survey & Spatial Analysis Training Guide'. The workshop will be at the University of New Orleans on Friday/22 February 2008. Click here to download the Registration form.

Workshop Overview

The NONAP Community GIS Technology Seminar is intended to provide an introduction
to the applications of using geographic information systems (GIS), NeoGeography and
global positioning system (GPS) technology. UNO students and Community Based/Neighborhood
Organizations will be provided with GIS Mapping through hands-on exercises and demonstrations.

Draft Agenda:

Lora Amsberryaugier, UNO Library Technology Department Chair,  “GIS at UNO”.
Pat Haughey, UNO Department of Urban Studies & Planning Outreach Professor, 
“Using GIS for Community Analysis”
Sarah Lewis/Karen Gadbois, Co-Directors, Common Knowledge, “1700 Project Plan”
Marseyas Fernandez, Director, City of New Orleans IT/GIS, 
“Community Partnerships & Data Sharing: Community on One Page”
Michelle Thompson, NONAP Project Director 
NONAP Interns, Darin Acosta and Yang Gu
“Social Explorer, Road Home NeoGeography, Using Census Data with GIS,
Economic Data using Business Analyst Online, GPS”

Alternative Fall Break Review

The Alternative Fall Break (AFB) in New Orleans (October 19-23, 2007) included training for the recovery monitoring field study to collect images and geospatial data of properties for the New Orleans Community Information System (NOcis). AFB Students/Community Advocates/Resident Volunteers worked in teams with local/non-local students, residents and community volunteers; obtained instruction on the use of global positioning systems (GPS) for use in geographic information systems (GIS) for community asset mapping; conducted priority survey research in Orleans Parish neighborhoods to monitor recovery activity. The results of the AFB activities is described in the NOcis section above.

Many thanks to volunteers from Cornell University, Dillard University, Syracuse University, University of New Orleans and community friends such as Common Knowledge and Hillary Schackai.

Alternative Fall Break Survey Flyer.pdf

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In the News

Press Release: "NONAP provides online mapping for Road Home Properties" Click here!

Cornell Daily Sun,"CRP Students Aim to Continue Work on New Orleans Projects' by Dan Eisen (September 2007)

Harvard University, Center of Geographic Analysis - Harvard GIS Community News: Geocoding Document (August 2007)

CRP's New Orleans Planning Initiative, Cornell University Department of City & Regional Planning

'Community GIS Seminar: How Community Based Organizations Can Use Technology for Neighborhood Analysis', Cornell University News Service, April 18, 2005.

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Reports & Research

GIS resources

What is GIS - geographic information systems?: "GIS is a collection of computer hardware, software and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information" - Environmental Systems Research Institute

What is NeoGeography? "Neogeography, in its most basic sense means - new geography." - Platial (May 27, 2006); "Introduction to Neogeography" by Andrew Turner ( ISBN 0-596-52995-3)

Cornell University: CRP 508DL (Distance Learning)." Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have revolutionized the way we manage, analyze, and present spatial information. This course focuses on GIS in the social sciences. Many of the exercises and examples are based on planning issues, but the concepts can be applied to many other disciplines such as government, economics, natural resources, and sociology. Some of the issues covered include: fundamentals of spatial analysis; overview of GIS technology and applications; designing a GIS project; gathering and analyzing data; and creating thematic maps." Instructor: Michelle M. Thompson

'GIS for Community-Based Planning & Development: Framing an Implementation Strategy for your CBO' by Michelle M. Thompson, A presentation in the 'GIS for Community-Based Planning & Development' workshop, by Michelle M. Thompson, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Community Lots Toolbox, January 2006.

Cornell University Cybertower Room: "Applied GIS: Turning Data into Information" with Michelle M. Thompson

University of Pennsylvania: Master of Urban Spatial Analytics.

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Community Data & Related Work

Community Contacts

Community Projects

Community Articles

About the Project

Disclaimer:
The information contained in this list has been derived from sources generally believed to be reliable.  Although it is believed that this information is generally correct, the New Orleans Neighborhood Analysis Project (NONAP) and related parties do not assume any responsibility whatsoever for its accuracy.  Users of this information do so at their own risk.  NONAP and related parties assume no obligation to provide support, maintenance or updates of this information.  It is not possible to ensure that such information will be accurate at any time, and NONAP and related parties expressly disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, of the accuracy of the information contained in this list, and that such information may be used for any particular purpose.  Readers of this list are cautioned that it is their responsibility to verify the accuracy of this information from all available alternative sources.  In no event shall NONAP or related parties be liable for any injury, expense, profit, loss or damage, direct, incidental or consequential, or any other pecuniary loss arising out of the use of this list by any person, firm or other entity.