Our Work

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Economic Development

Supporting the 2024 AANHPI National Unity Summit

Blue Raster supported our client, the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) during the 2024 AANHPI Unity Summit in Washington, D.C., focused on "Lifting Our Community Voices in Building Unity and Affecting Change." This event provided a vital platform for AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) organizations to engage with policymakers and address pressing community issues such as immigration, civil rights, and racial discrimination. 

Blue Raster's Commitment to Civic Engagement

During the summit, our colleague Mary Bracho presented on behalf of Blue Raster at both the White House and the U.S. Capitol, where she collaborated with community leaders and government officials to amplify AAPI voices. The two-day event brought together key figures, including Krystal Kaai from the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and Kota Mizutani, Senior Advisor at the White House, further highlighting the significance of unity in affecting change.

As part of the summit, Blue Raster collaborated with the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) to support the launch and demonstration of the AAPI Partner Network application and the AAUC Hub site. Developed using ArcGIS Experience Builder, with key components built in ArcGIS Dashboards and Survey123, the AAPI Partner Network now boasts the most comprehensive and robust database of AAPI organizations. The platform empowers users to explore data, identify gaps in services and support, make informed decisions, and foster collaboration within the AAPI community.

 

The event featured panels addressing key community issues such as immigration, civil rights, and racial discrimination, with a focus on building unity across diverse ethnic groups. As our partners noted,

“Blue Raster's unwavering support and contribution played a pivotal role in the successful execution of our 2024 National AANHPI Unity Summit… expanding the reach of AAUC and furthering our mission to promote civic engagement among Asian Americans.”

Blue Raster’s partnership with AAUC extends beyond our support at the summit. We’ve been instrumental in the development of the AAPI Community Hub Project, which leverages our expertise in ArcGIS to provide community organizations with powerful tools to advocate for change and engage with lawmakers.

WhiteHouse Briefing

Our Commitment to GIS for Good 

At Blue Raster, we believe in the power of GIS to drive positive social change. Our partnership with AAUC and our involvement in the 2024 AANHPI National Unity Summit are examples of how we utilize ArcGIS technology to help amplify voices that often go unheard. By providing the tools and resources necessary to elevate community concerns, we are proud to play a role in fostering unity and advocating for meaningful change.

As we look forward to future collaborations, we remain committed to leveraging our expertise for the greater good, working alongside organizations like AAUC to build a more inclusive and just society.

Stay connected with us for future updates on how we're partnering with organizations like AAUC to amplify voices and foster unity. Interested in learning how GIS can empower your organization? Contact us today to explore how we can help you make an impact!

Enabling cooperative engagement within the Asian American Community

The diverse Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, with origins spanning over 42 countries in Asia and 15 countries in the Pacific, often face the challenge of being homogenized despite their rich cultural tapestry. Compounded by the presence of numerous ethnic groups within each origin country, each with distinct migration histories, understanding the nuanced complexity of these communities and effectively catering to their needs becomes imperative.

In response to this challenge, the Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) collaborating with its technology partner, Blue Raster Inc.,  are employing the power of GIS technology to shed light on the complexity of the diverse AANHPI communities. Through this collaboration and the dashboard application, we have undertaken a comprehensive exploration of the characteristics of various ethnic groups from East, Southeast, and South Asia, Syria, Yemen, as well as Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Hawaii.

The heart of this application lies in its ability to offer a comprehensive directory of Asian American nonprofit organizations across the United States. This invaluable resource retrieved from the IRS database provides a wealth of information about each organization, including its name, type, website, EIN (Employer Identification Number), classification, location by state and address, contact details, year formed, last year filing, income, and assets. This single, centralized platform streamlines access to essential information, making it easier than ever for individuals and entities to engage with and support AAPI nonprofits.

The AAPI Network Application

Asian American Unity Coalition Dashboard-1

The AAPI interface was developed with ArcGIS Experience Builder with ArcGIS dashboards embedded into the Experience Builder application to allow users to interact with the data, map and chart functionalities. Additionally, the Blue Raster team utilized ArcGIS Survey123 to configure a feedback form to allow organizations currently not in the network to seamlessly add and map their organizational info into the network inventory. Behind the Survey123 form, Blue Raster also developed an ArcGIS Reviewer Instant App to allow administrators to review and update survey entries. The application was also configured for web and mobile functionality. 

Benefits to the Asian American Community

One of the most significant benefits of this dashboard is its capacity to empower users with well-informed choices. Individuals looking to support Asian American nonprofits can now easily identify organizations aligning with their interests and values. Whether it’s civil rights, arts and humanities, religious, healthcare, or other areas, users can make decisions based on their preferences and contribute to causes they are passionate about. This newfound transparency ensures that resources are channeled more effectively towards causes that truly matter. By serving as a hub for the AAPI nonprofit network, this ArcGIS dashboard promotes greater synergy among organizations. Collaboration and networking are essential components of community-building, and this tool simplifies the process.

Organizations can identify potential partners, discover complementary initiatives, and collectively work towards the betterment of the AAPI community. Nonprofits can use this platform to expand their reach, connect with a broader audience, and raise awareness about their missions and initiatives. ArcGIS’s scalability and adaptability means it can be tailored to various needs and industries, from environmental conservation to public health and beyond. Its user-friendly interface ensures that users of all technical backgrounds can access valuable insights, making it a versatile tool that empowers organizations to unlock the full potential of their data.

Asian American Unity Coalition Dashboard-2 Asian American Unity Coalition Dashboard-3

The integration of GIS mapping has facilitated the identification of the geographic distribution of these ethnic communities. The dynamic dashboard application seamlessly interconnects the collected information, allowing users to apply filters based on state, purpose, and ethnicity. Currently, our initiative has identified over 16,500 nonprofit AANHPI organizations in all 50 states, with approximately 15,000 of them geocoded. Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive dataset, we aspire to expand the AAPI network to include over 20,000 organizations, necessitating continuous data validation and updates in sync with the IRS’s regular data refresh cycles.

Contact us today to learn more about this initiative and how Blue Raster can support your organization

 

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Revitalizing Main Street: Tracking Community Opportunities with BOOMS Tracker

Main Street districts across America, once vibrant centers of community life and economic activity, have faced significant challenges over recent decades. Economic shifts, suburbanization, and changing retail landscapes have left many of these historic areas struggling with vacant buildings, underutilized spaces, and a decline in local businesses. The need to revitalize these districts is critical for preserving cultural heritage, fostering economic growth, and enhancing community resilience.

Picture of historic main street buildings.

Addressing Community Challenges with Main Street America

Main Street America, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting traditional commercial districts, has launched the Building Opportunities on Main Street (BOOMS) Tracker to address the issues these areas are now facing. This innovative property inventory tool helps local Main Street leaders collect and analyze data on housing units, businesses, and civic spaces within their districts. By identifying development opportunities in vacant buildings, lots, and upper floors, the BOOMS Tracker provides actionable insights to drive revitalization efforts.

How Does the BOOMS Tracker Work?

  • Mobile Access: Users access district-specific ArcGIS Hub pages on their mobile devices to begin data collection.
  • Detailed Surveys: By selecting a parcel on the map, users complete detailed surveys to capture property information.
  • Real-Time Analysis: Collected data is analyzed and visualized to reveal opportunities, with statistics calculated in real time.
  • Aggregated Insights: Information is aggregated at regional and national levels to support decision-making and policy changes.

Users Access the Survey123 through an Experience Builder App

Users access the ArcGIS Survey123 through an Experience Builder app embedded in an ArcGIS Hub Page

ArcGIS Dashboard visualizing survey results

Data collected is analyzed and visualized in ArcGIS Dashboards to support decision making

The Impact of the BOOMS Tracker

The BOOMS Tracker serves as a central repository for valuable information about the built environment in each district. Insights derived from this tool empower local leaders to make authoritative decisions on housing and land use, driving revitalization efforts. Furthermore, aggregated data at larger regional and national levels provides evidence to influence policy changes and attract more investment into existing buildings.

Blue Raster's Role in Supporting Main Street America

At Blue Raster, we are proud to support the Main Street America's initiative with our expertise in geospatial technology. Utilizing tools such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Hub Premium, ArcGIS Survey123, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Dashboards, and the ArcGIS API for Python, we have developed the BOOMS Tracker to help communities visualize and analyze their data effectively. Our work supporting Main Street America ensures that local leaders have the tools they need to revitalize their downtown areas and promote sustainable growth.

Although the full functionality of the BOOMs Tracker is only available to designated Local and Coordinating Programs within the Main Street network, the public can access the BOOMS Tracker home page to see high-level statistics and the collection progress leaderboard.  Visit the BOOMS Tracker and Main Street America for more information.

BOOMS Tracker Public Statistics

BOOMS Tracker Public Statistics

BOOMS Tracker Collection Progress Leaderboard

BOOMS Tracker Collection Progress Leaderboard

BOOMS Tracker Homepage

BOOMS Tracker Homepage

Learn More About Our Work

Discover how Blue Raster’s advanced geospatial solutions can support your projects. Contact us today to learn how our expertise can make a difference in your efforts to improve community resilience and economic vitality. Click here to learn more.

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Building Bridges to Progress: The Inter-American Development Bank’s HIT Platform for Infrastructure and Transport

Across Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) plays a pivotal role in financing sustainable, social, economic, and institutional development. With a mission to support transportation and infrastructure projects across South and Central America, the IDB collaborates with various partners to drive positive change in the region.

Blue Raster collaborated with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to develop the Hub de Integracion y Transporte (HIT) Platform, a groundbreaking initiative that serves as a regional infrastructure and transport hub, consolidating and presenting crucial information layers for effective planning and decision-making.

IDB HIT Platform

The HIT Platform offers an innovative solution by providing a comprehensive platform that combines key information related to infrastructure, logistics, value chains, projects, climate change, Covid impacts, and development perspectives. This platform acts as a powerful planning tool and an invaluable information repository, catering to the needs of government officials, Mesoamerican stakeholders and IDB specialists. The HIT Project is divided into six modules, each utilizing the robust capabilities of the ArcGIS Online suite of solutions and incorporating custom-developed features to address specific requirements. Recognizing the linguistic diversity of the region, all modules of the HIT Platform were developed in Spanish. The HIT Platform encompasses a series of interactive web applications and dashboards developed with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Dashboards.

IDB HIT Platform IDB HIT Platform

The HIT Platform offers a personalized user experience by incorporating customized list and pop-up elements. These interactive components allow users to access specific information related to infrastructure, logistics, and value chains conveniently. By tailoring the user interface to meet specific requirements, the platform enhances usability and efficiency. To enable intuitive data visualization, the HIT platform project utilizes data-driven symbology, a feature within ArcGIS, to dynamically represent information based on various attributes. ArcGIS Arcade expressions, a flexible scripting language within ArcGIS, are employed extensively throughout the HIT project to ensure accurate and consistent data cleaning and formatting. By leveraging Arcade expressions, the platform achieves seamless integration and harmonization of diverse datasets, enhancing data quality and reliability.

Through its effective utilization of ArcGIS Online and its suite of applications and customization options, the HIT Platform sets a benchmark for effective planning and information management in the region, fostering positive change and driving sustainable growth.

Advancing Sustainable Development in West Africa: A Geospatial Toolkit for Monitoring SDG Goals

In 2015, United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a shared blueprint for global peace and prosperity now and into the future. Within the core of this agenda are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which call all countries to action in a global partnership.

Goal 15 of the Sustainable Development Goals outlines a plan to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss

As part of its initiatives in West Africa, the MIT Media Lab partnered with the Biospheric Sciences Lab at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Blue Raster to develop a desktop-based geospatial toolkit for calculating and reporting key indicators within Goal 15 of the SDGs. These key indicators are:

  • Forest area as a proportion of total land area
  • Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.
  • Coverage by protected areas of important sites for mountain biodiversity.

Blue Raster developed these tools in a custom toolbox using ArcGIS Pro and the ArcGIS Python site package, ArcPy to calculate the key indicators for countries in the West African region namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Togo, Benin, Guinea, and Botswana. The tool leverages remotely sensed imagery and standardized datasets to inform and provide decision making support to West African stakeholders as well as stakeholders within the academic community supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development agenda.

Blue Raster is long time partner of the MIT Media Lab and had previously partnered with the MIT Media Lab and Green Keeper Africa to develop the Lake Nokoué Environmental Observatory application, an online mapping that provides the public with current and historic information about water quality and invasive species in Lake Nokoué. The online observatory and decision support tool utilizes satellite, aerial and ground data to map water quality readings, as well as the location of water hyacinth and a fish farming practice known as “acadja” over time.


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