Groundwork Geographic Information System

What does housing discrimination have to do with climate change? Over the past three years, Groundwork Milwaukee has been providing technical support through Groundwork GIS to five Groundwork trusts aiming to answer this question. The project is called Climate Safe Neighborhoods and it aims to examine how the legacy of federally supported segregationist policy, like redlining, dictates which neighborhoods are most vulnerable to severe heat and flooding predicted to be caused by climate change. Follow the link below to view story maps outlining the data-informed process Groundwork Trusts across the country are implementing to advocate for their neighborhoods.

Groundwork GIS aspires to leverage geographic information systems (GIS) to enhance existing Groundwork programming by providing technical training resources, tools for data collection and analysis, and production of thought-provoking maps and web products. Groundwork GIS supports all other Groundwork Milwaukee programming, allowing us to understand our work from new perspectives while providing GIS support to the broader Groundwork USA Network.

Looking ahead, Groundwork Milwaukee has identified climate change as a primary danger for Milwaukee in the form of flooding and heat. Local geographic information system (GIS) maps created by Groundwork Milwaukee have revealed significant climate impacts related to flooding and urban "heat islands."

Regarding flooding, three major rivers and creeks converge in the city covering a vast area of paved surfaces. In addition, the city has a combined sewer system that merges storm runoff water and household sewage lines. In July 2010, a series of storms with 6 inches of rain per hour led to flash flooding in parts of the city that had never experienced flooding, causing millions of dollars in damages. 

Regarding heat, Groundwork Milwaukee's GIS maps have identified areas of northside Milwaukee that have an overabundance of paved surfaces and a shortage of trees and other cooling vegetation, leading to summer ground temperatures that are 25 degrees above suburban areas.

Virtual garden tours

These are virtual tours of Groundwork gardens created using Mapillary. We use these to answer questions about the gardens, but they also serve as a cool way for us to share the incredible work of our dedicated gardeners. Click the images below to take a tour!

Contact

For more information about Groundwork GIS, contact Deja Garner at deja@groundworkmke.org.