Geography and Data with Kristen Kurland
Maps have been a part of our lives for so long that we can often take their utility for granted. Prof. Kristen Kurland brings their importance back into focus with this week's episode. Sitting down with James Reid, Professor Kurland details her path from architecture to design to teaching geospatial analysis at Carnegie Mellon.
James and Kristen talk about the many fields GIS (Geographic Information Systems) can be utilized. Her work has ranged from looking at whether childhood obesity is related to neighborhood characteristics like green spaces and restaurants, to whether transportation access influences patients showing up for check ups, to how maps of crime can inform police departments of where resources are needed.