GIS Portfolio

Rachel Alfano

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About Me

I am a map enthusiast who continues to develop my skills by exploring and learning new applications and software Esri has to offer. I graduated from West Chester University with a minor in GIS and I am looking for a full-time opportunity in the GIS industry, specifically land/plant conservation. 

GIS Portfolio

Below are maps I have created. Click the image to view and interact.


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Save the Valley
QuickCapture

 

Hiking Red Rock Canyon

Educate hikers about trail difficulty with landscape layers from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World.

Site Suitability Analysis for a New Wind Farm

Determination of the most optimal location for a set of new high-efficiency wind turbines in Colorado.

Visualize Global COVID-19 Cases

Visualization of Johns Hopkins University aggregated global COVID-19 data

Predominant Mapping
Z-Scores for Election Data

This map visualizes the 2016 presidential election with a focus on z-score, which is a value assigned relative to "standard deviations from the mean".  In this circumstance, the z-score compares county average votes by party as compared with the national party average.  Therefore, states with a positive z-score "overperformed" and states with a negative z-score "underperformed", relative to the national average.

Mapping Voter Data
Veterans in Howard County, MD

This map uses Tapestry Segmentation to characterize neighborhoods and uses United States Census data to identify veterans, a key regional voting bloc.  The map allows users to gain insight about the lifestyles and attitudes of these veteran voters.  This project resulted in both a map and a presentation that allows users to easily understand the map they are interacting with.

Midterm Election 2018
Political Maps

Geography is a critical component of modern campaigning - It is important to know where to invest a campaign's limited resources. I have analyzed relevant election history from the 2018 midterms. These maps include a special focus on Virginia’s recent elections and identifies counties and congressional districts which could be flipped to the opposing party.

Oso Mudslide
Before and After

On March 22, 2014, after a month of heavy rainfall, a mountain gave way near Oso, Washington; the resulting and historic mudslide killed 43 people. The slide began on a hill to the north and sped down, damming the river, blocking a nearby highway, and completely burying the Steelhead Drive community.

Lincoln Crime Analysis

This map helps track crime patterns as a tool for law enforcement.  I mapped crime hot spots which show when, where, and what kind of crime took place.  The map was made to help the cops find the areas to patrol. The blue heat map shows the crime density, and the purple area are crimes that happened more than 5 minutes away from the police stations.

Shelter Access Analysis

Starting map for an analysis of people who live in high risk zones for lava flow on the island of Hawaii. The analysis considers the locations of emergency shelters, how long it takes to drive to a shelter, and where people live on the island.

At-Risk Population in Houston

This map highlights areas in need of assistance during a hurricane evacuation in Houston, Texas. The darker blue tracts have a higher percentage of households without a vehicle. This pattern helps answer the question: Where in Houston should we provide evacuation assistance during a hurricane? 

Save the Valley Supporters

Geographic locations of Save the Valley Supporters.

Detroit Demographics

This map shows demographic and income data in Detroit. What stands out is a pattern of low-income households in the downtown area combined with areas of high child population. This pattern helps answer where in Detroit charities should focus its resources to help children living in poverty.

Boulder County Map
Mudslides

Boulder County's flood-and mudslide-prone areas for vulnerable populations as part of an analysis seeking to minimize the loss of life and property should a similar disaster strike the region.

Smartphone Ownership

The map shows different counties and their respective number of adults who own a cellphone. It also shows the Market Potential Index (MPI) which measures the demand of the product in comparison to the national average.


Have a Great Idea for a Map?

I'm always looking for more projects to continue developing my skills and to give back to the community.  If there is a map that could be useful to you, please first familiarize yourself with the projects above to get an idea of what is possible, and then tell me about your idea via the form below.  If I love the concept, I'll do my best to make your dream come to life. 

*note: please be prepared to identify a source of where your data will come from, as data is the key part of creating any map.  This form will ask you to upload the data if you have it.