Ann K. Peton, Director:

The Use of Internet Mapping as a Tool to Support Latino Population Change Assessment and Community Decision Making

Rural Policy Research Institute, University of Missouri

 

Abstract

 

The success of researchers, policy makers and community leaders is highly dependent on the quality of their tools.  Internet mapping has proven to be a popular and highly resourceful tool in assessing population change dynamics and community policy.  To quickly assess disparate variables, researches and community decision makers alike have found the free, internet mapping tool provided by the Community Resource Information Center to be an invaluable ally.

 

The Rural Policy Research Institute’s (RUPRI) Community Information Resource Center (CIRC) has developed an internet mapping tool specifically designed for supporting community decision making.  While the internet mapping interface was originally designed to support rural health, it has since expanded to include stakeholders such as the City of New York, the American Osteopathic Association, AmeriCorps and many other groups interested in viewing data spatially. 

 

Internet mapping can be used as a tool to support research on Latino population change and the implications on health and community development.  By learning to utilize the CIRC Internet Mapping interface (http://circ.rupri.org), individuals can assess the change in population dynamics in an area and identify gaps in services geared toward Latino individuals, among many other uses.  CIRC’s internet-based analytical tools were crafted to assist rural stakeholders more effectively visualize, analyze, query and map the issues impacting rural America.  CIRC’s unique online data creation tool allows the user to generate a geospatial data layer, attribute and edit based upon desktop imagery or other geospatial data.  This on-line data creation tool also allows the user to attribute and edit data created through the internet mapping application that can be easily downloaded onto their desktop. 

 

This presentation will also highlight examples of how GIS has been utilized in support of public policy development and how it can be used in an advocacy role for Latino causes.

The participants will also view a tutorial built to support public access to health data in preparation of grants.

 

Contact Information:

 

Ann K. Peton, Director,

Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI)’s Community Information Resource Center (CIRC), University of Missouri

petonA@missouri.edu

231 Middlebush Hall

University of Missouri