31 GIS technology aids in identifying areas where equitable services are needed and where unjust practices leave people vulnerable. In Louisville, Kentucky, traffic safety improvements are being made in underserved communities first. GIS technology was used to identify high-risk locations based on crash analysis and roadway design. These locations were subsequently compared with data on community vulnerabilities, revealing that disadvantaged areas suffered higher rates of harm. This data was crucial in securing a $21 million implementation grant from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) for safety improvements in the city’s most hazardous corridors. “GIS analysis is woven through the work that we do. It’s the foundation for a lot of our decision-making,” said Amanda Deatherage, the transportation planner supervisor for Louisville Metro Government. This analysis led to the development of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant application, which ultimately resulted in funding for planned changes. The Environmental Justice Index (EJI), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a unique geospatial tool that measures the cumulative impacts of social and environmental factors on communities. Each census tract in the US receives a single score representing these cumulative impacts, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by different locales. “What’s more important,” said Benjamin McKenzie, project coordinator for the EJI, “is that you can click on an individual community, and you can actually see what is driving those impacts.” The tool lets users view the map and its score through each of the 36 individual indicators, providing a detailed context for each location’s score. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is using GIS technology to highlight and address systemic inequalities. By using smart maps and advanced analytics, the NAACP can identify patterns of discrimination and disadvantage to inform their advocacy work. Equity and Social Justice “We are embracing this idea that as technology moves, so goes the world,” said Yumeka Rushing, the NAACP’s chief strategy officer. By infusing more data and data science into their research and programs, the NAACP can offer more authoritative insights into racial injustice. Los Angeles County uses GIS technology to document and address racial disparities. Following the declaration of racism as a public health issue, the county conducted a study using GIS technology to understand the conditions affecting the health and well-being of Black residents. In the inaugural report on the State of Black Los Angeles County, maps and data science laid bare the unequal reality faced by Black residents. Despite living in one of the most prosperous counties in the nation, Black residents were found to be more likely to experience disparities in family stability, health, education, employment, economic opportunity, public safety, criminal justice, and housing. The 2022 educational endeavor supported by the National Geographic Society—2892 Miles to Go: Geographic Walk for Justice—uses GIS technology to reexamine history and issues concerning justice, race, and equity. This social justice collaboration among educators, change-makers, and leaders focuses on place-based storytelling and maps that highlight layers of injustice and the humanity of those who walked before us. Ashley Lamb-Sinclair, a National Geographic Explorer and founding partner of the project, emphasized the role of GIS technology in telling these narratives. “How do you add layers to amplify and connect the dots both in terms of visuals and data? How do you show the story of a family in Jackson dealing with a water crisis and connect it to a family in Baltimore who is dealing with a different type of water crisis—and to a family in Flint?” she said. GIS provides insight into patterns of inequality and can provide common understanding across communities to effect positive change.
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