Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project
Carolyn Adams, David Bartelt, David Elesh, Leonard LoSciuto, Mark Mattson
Departments of Geography and Urban Studies and Sociology
 

This project aims to promote regional thinking about our most important challenges by creating annually a report to the Greater Philadelphia region that combines two types of information. The first is a set of social, environmental, and economic indicators that track important trends in the region, particularly indicators portraying the quality of life in the region’s communities. The second type of information comes from an annual household survey conducted by Temple’s Institute for Survey Research which asks respondents across the region how they see the quality of life in their communities either improving or declining.
http://www.metrophilaindicators.org/

Knowledge Discovery in Spatio-Temporal Databases
Tim Fiez, Aleksandar Lazarevic, Zoran Obradovic, Dragoljub Pokrajac, Slobodan Vucetic
Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Center for Information Science and Technology
 

The objective of this project is to develop a system for knowledge discovery and local models integration without exchange of confidential and proprietary information in large spatial and spatial-temporal databases.  To achieve this objective, we have developed and tested novel exploratory data analysis methods for spatial data; developed machine learning algorithms for building and selectively applying multiple expert modules; tested model development and prediction capabilities using multiple non-centralized data sets; and prototyped a software package for knowledge discovery from spatial data.
http://www.ist.temple.edu/~zoran/research/spatial.html

Multidimensional Map Algebra
Jeremy Mennis
Department of Geography and Urban Studies
 

This research aims to extend conventional map algebra for 2D+time, 3D, and 4D data handling by using Multidimensional Map Algebra (MMA). The ultimate goal is to develop open source, interoperable software that can facilitate research in a number of scientific spatio-temporal computing applications, such as the analysis of time series of satellite imagery and geocomputational simulation output.
http://astro.temple.edu/~jmennis/research/mma/

Crime Mapping
Jerry Ratcliffe
Department of Criminal Justice
 

Description forthcoming
http://www.jratcliffe.net/cpa/

Building IT Skills among Inner City Youth in North Philadelphia through Development of a
Community Geographic Information System
Michele Masucci and Matthew Davis
Department of Geography and Urban Studies and Information Technology and Society Research Group

Building Information Technology Skills (bITS) among North Philadelphia Youth is a project funded by the National Science Foundation, ITEST Program. It involves the participation of approximately ninety high school students
per year over a three-year long program. bITS is carried out year round and includes five hours of instruction each week for twelve weeks each semester. In addition, students participate in a summer intensive workshop. The research objective of bITS is to assess the viability of a collaborative model for developing a community geographic
information system that draws on the perspectives and experiences of program participants.
http://bits.delawarevalley.org/

Pennypack Creek Watershed Study
Jeffrey Featherstone, Michel Boufadel, David Grandstaff, Jonathan E. Nyquist, Laura Toran
Departments of Community and Regional Planning and Geology and the Center for Sustainable Communities
 

This project is a 30-month study of the Pennypack Creek Watershed in order to help communities located in the watershed reduce flooding, improve water quality, and better manage development. The study involves six components: Hydrologic modeling to determine new floodplain boundaries; Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of the entire watershed; Water quality monitoring; Assessment and recommendation of open space and corridor alternatives; Evaluation of existing storm water facilities; and a comprehensive communications program to provide information and opportunities for public input.
http://www.temple.edu/ambler/csc/pennypack/