Why accurate statistical data matters for Human Geography with Tom Fitzwater

On this episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, hosts Terri Ryan and Gwyneth Holt talk with Dr. Michael Humber, Associate Research Professor at the University of Maryland’s Department of Geographical Sciences, about his role as data lead within NASA’s Harvest Portal.    00:55 What is NASA’s HARVEST Portal?    - https://harvestportal.org/      02:20 What is GEOGLAM? Is it related to the NASA HARVEST Portal?    - G20 https://www.g20.org/en/about-g20/#members    - Group on Earth Observations https://www.earthobservations.org/index.php    - GEOGLAM https://earthobservations.org/geoglam.php    - Food price spike in 2008 https://www.oaklandinstitute.org/high-food-price-crisis    - And in 2011 https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2011/september/commodity-price-spike/    - Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) https://www.amis-outlook.org//    - AMIS Market Monitor http://www.amis-outlook.org/amis-monitoring#.Y93Rl-zMJfE    - Crop Monitor https://cropmonitor.org/    - FEWSNet https://fews.net/      06:50 Any recent insights, especially around Ukraine?    - Potash https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potash    - Potash market spike after the start of the Ukraine war https://ycharts.com/indicators/potassium_chloride_muriate_of_potash_spot_price      11:00 Any surprises in the agricultural patterns you’re following?    - Current material sanctions list https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/sanctions-programs-and-country-information/ukraine-russia-related-sanctions      13:00 Assessing downstream aspects of the war in Ukraine, coupled with climate change and COVID    - Macroeconomics https://www.khanacademy.org/economics-finance-domain/macroeconomics      16:45 What are the biggest data gaps you’re seeing now?    (1)  Field data measurements    - Global map and indicators of food system sustainability https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-019-0301-5    (2)  Data from the grain trade – the transport and storage of grain https://cee.illinois.edu/news/first-map-americas-food-supply-chain-mind-boggling and https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/transportation-analysis/gtr-datasets     1 9:45 New data resources you’re excited about?    - MODIS https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/    - LANDSAT https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/    - Wildfire imagery https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#d:24hrs;@0.0,0.0,3z      - LIDAR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuTm1jJy2XY    - Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (global biomass) https://gedi.umd.edu/    - Google Earth Engine https://earthengine.google.com/    - Natural Language Processing Workflow in Geospatial Sciences https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356010869_Natural_Language_Processing_in_GIScience_Applications    - Crop Explorers USDA/FAS https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/    - Hunger Map Live (WFP) https://hungermap.wfp.org/      ===  Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.

On this episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, hosts Terri Ryan and Gwyneth Holt talk with Dr. Kelsea Best, a post-doctoral researcher in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland. 01:10 An overview of her research on environmental migration in Bangladesh. 02:30 A description of her agent-based modeling tool and its utility in her research. An overview of agent-based modeling: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent-based_model  04:50 What was the academic path that led to this focus? (from chemical engineering to addressing climate justice through data analysis) 07:20 Out of 2,000 variables in your dataset, how did Machine Learning help you gain insight? An overview of machine learning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_learning  09:50 Did anything surprise you in your analysis? 12:05 Is the enormous dataset you're describing publicly available? (Not yet. But the Adams dataset, similarly valuable and also about Bangladesh, is available.)  The Adams dataset from Bangladesh - https://reshare.ukdataservice.ac.uk/852356/ 13:30 Discussing why people do or do not want to migrate, and the many pressures around either choice.  16:00 Developing a board game to explore migration decisions, and the scientific creativity appearing as we try to understand these complex issues.  16:30 Discovering the importance of migration narratives, and deciding to collect and incorporate migration stories to enrich the meaning of survey data.  StoryMap with Bangladeshi migrant stories- https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fd168c7804ae489b99c7311a4c805b31 21:15 Where can our listeners take a close look at your agent-based modeling code? Dr. Best's agent-based model code- https://zenodo.org/record/4526330#.Y7cNMXbMKUc 22:35 The WWHGD Human Geography Library resources on environmental migration.  WWHGD.org  === Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.

Join us next week for our in person event:  Climate, Migration, and Human Security Symposium 15 November 2022 National Museum of American Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C. If you can't join us in person we will be broadcasting the event via webinar, we look forward to seeing many of you there! Register Here: https://www.wwhgd.org/events-1/climate-migration-and-human-security-2/form

On this episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, hosts Terri Ryan and Gwyneth Holt talk with Dr. Chelsea Cervantes De Blois, lead climate security expert at the US Department of State.  00:55   Defining Human-Environmental Systems Coupled Human-Environment Systems Modelling Climate and Conflict Tracking climate migration patterns at ClimateMigration.org  Report on internal displacement in a changing climate here. 02:20   Migration drivers: Social, political, economic, cultural, demographic, ecological, and sometimes infrastructure.  02:45   Research on ethnic conflict in Kyrgyzstan and the associated "system" relationships The 2021 PhD dissertation on Kyrgyzstan by our guest, Dr. Cervantes De Blois, is here.  05:05   Understanding the data you have, and whether it's the data you need. 06:15    A major problem in assessing climate migration data: a lack of standardization for describing a climate refugee. A discussion of the definition of "climate refugee"  08:15    A lack of comprehensive datasets requires creative thinking.  09:50   People may not realize that they're in the middle of a climate-driven migration Award-winning July 2020 New York Times Magazine long-form interactive article on Climate Migration 10:35   Counting the "invisibles" Risks of missing the invisibles in environmental migration research (2021 Nature article, open-access) 11:55    Recognizing a "mental migration" in reporting, and standardizing tools and terms for climate migration across shared disciplines. A seminal discussion of Migration Psychology   13:30   Why is this topic, climate migration, important across so many disciplines? 14:35   Why not just devise better tools and methods? Why is standardization difficult? COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 06-18 November 2022 What, really, is a PhD Dissertation? Useful description from Purdue University. "The more you learn, the less you actually know" 17:20   "Mixed Methodist" as a human geographer. Extracting definitions 18:40   Climate-Migration nexus framework Exploring the Climate Change, Migration, and Conflict Nexus  21:25   Hopes for the Climate and Migration event at State on 15 November. === Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.

On this episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, hosts Terri Ryan and Eric Rasmussen talk with Dr. Patricia Solis, Associate Research Professor at the School for Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University, and the Director and Co-Founder of YouthMappers. 00:50   The mission of Youth Mappers Youth Mappers 01:50   Where did this idea come from? USAID GeoCenter at USAID 2015 Kathmandu Earthquake Humanitarian Open Street Map Team Kathmandu Living Labs 05:20   Can a student start a chapter of YouthMappers at their school? 06:55    What kind of projects can they work on, and do you help? Youth Mappers Academy Teach OSM American Red Cross training center Open Street Map - Puerto Rico 10:30   Efforts at regional capacity building, and encouraging international meetings 11:45   Leadership programs, Fellowship programs Fellowship programs  (closed for 2023) 2023 Leadership workshop in Jamaica (66 students selected, 27 countries) for climate mapping and more (closed for 2023) 14:00   Can students reach out and up to local governments? Yes!!! 16:30   Inspiring for young people, and all data is freely available on OSM Open Street Map Activity.YouthMappers.org 17:45   Youth Mappers have mapped at least 16 million buildings and 500,000 km of roads, and labeled more than 80,000 building tags.  18:20   Stories of the Mappers: Open source book by Springer-Verlag, voices of the students, Sustainable Development Goals series. (Spring 2023) Open Mapping toward Sustainable Development Goals  (Springer, ISBN: 978-3-031-05184-5) - not yet released as of 11 October 2022  The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 19: 20   Documentary on YouTube: Sierra Leone open mapping data Arizona State University and the Ministry of Energy in Sierra Leone.  Youth Mappers documentary on YouTube Arizona State University YouthMappers home "Be a good ancestor" === Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.

On this episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, hosts Gwyneth Holt and Eric Rasmussen talk with Dr. John Hummel, the program lead for Integrated Resilience Analysis in the Decision and Infrastructure Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. 01:15    Dr. Hummel's role at Argonne. Argonne National Laboratory 02:05  Integrated Resiliency Analysis 02:30  Defining "resilience" United Nations definition of resilience 03:25   The ARISE Framework for assessing resilience - genesis and driving factors ARISE Framework described on Dr. Hummel's bio. ARISE is free, and distributed through an email to him.  05:30   The ARISE Framework's design process and current implementation 08:15    Use of the Framework in Nepal - earthquake validation 2015 Nepal Earthquake 09:55   Assessing data sources - three tiers of trust 11:20    Level of Effort remotely and on the ground   12:35   Recent development in refining the ARISE Framework, and its availability 14:25   Reflecting nuance: Addressing gaps between written policy or law, and what's actually found on the ground.  Domestic abuse, in 2020, was the primary cause of injury to women in Nepal.  17:10    Discussing the purpose of National Laboratories National Laboratories Los Alamos National Lab Enrico Fermi 19:50   Argonne efforts during the pandemic: Forming a National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory Johns Hopkins COVID Dashboard National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory 21:15    Agent-based modeling for the spread of COVID infections across the entire Chicago area. Two million agents, every 50 minutes, over 90 days. Agent-based modeling 23:15   Assessing COVID workforce impact by county. Defining essential workers and their associated risk by US location. Essential Workers 24:35  Distribution of COVID analyses internationally. Data risks. Data collection in Fragile States - Innovations in Africa 26:00  National Laboratories as "cookie stores" - Argonne Fellowship selection choices are superb. Argonne Fellowships Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.

On this episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, hosts Terri Ryan and Gwyneth Holt talk with Dr. Laurie Rush, the Cultural Resources Manager and Army Archaeologist at Fort Drum, New York. 00:35   Upcoming WWHGD Webinar on Cultural Heritage and Human Geography scheduled for October 19th, 2022. Register here. 00:50   Defining "cultural heritage" and "cultural property".  Cultural heritage Cultural property 01:05    Unique, powerful, and sensible definition from Dr. Rush. 01:30    The Hague definition. The Hague Convention on protecting cultural property in armed conflict 02:00   Describing her role as a cultural resources manager.   03:35   Expanding her role to teach cross-cultural landscapes to deploying soldiers. 04:35   Drawing parallels between international sensitivity and our internal domestic perspectives on cultural property.  05:40   Example: "Tooth of the Dragon", a pointed rock, in the Bamian valley of central Afghanistan.  A discussion of the Bamian Valley The Nara Principles for Cultural Restoration 06:35   Is there a database of important sites like "Tooth of the Dragon"? 07:35   Local community partnership development. Ideally, with the keepers of the heritage before any disruptive events. 10:15    A GIS layer with important cultural artifacts localized seems highly desirable. Are there any risks in that accumulation or exposure? War and Heritage from the Getty Conservation Institute 12:35   How do you train soldiers to support this cultural task when deployed? Cultural preservation Training Aids from the Smithsonian 13:30   Example: Remote Afghan water systems with surface holes easy to spot.  A discussion of the Qanat water systems of the Middle East (Dr. Rush uses the regionally correct term "kareez"). 14:50   Other examples: Smithsonian's Dr. Katherine Hanson helping strategic planning to save Raqqa from ISIS.  The Battle for Raqqa (2017) Article about Raqqa preservation by Dr. Hanson. 16:05   The staying power of ancient places to the people who live there. Ex: The Temple of Artemis at Sardis in Turkey.  The Temple of Artemis at Sardis Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.

On this episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, hosts Terri Ryan and Gwyneth Holt talk with Elizabeth Lyon, Deputy Director for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Support Team at U.S. AFRICOM.  Liz is a passionate Geographer who talks to the importance of place and human geography and why human geography can be so hard to map. 01:00   What's your role now as a Deputy Director with NGA at AFRICOM? 02:20   Looking at places that aren't yet well-mapped. 03:30   How to be effective with a geographic separation between a physical workspace and an area of responsibility (AOR) 04:00   "Volksmarsch" as a German tradition Volksmarsches 05:00   Defining Human Geography for non-specialists SimCity Risk 07:00  Why is it so hard to map the earth?  data structures history of cartography 08:30   What does the WWHGD mean to you? Is it of benefit to the field of human geography? WWHGD 10:10   "We need to create a taxonomy." Human Security Taxonomy 10:35   Building off a information-sharing model developed in the disaster response/humanitarian assistance community  14:00  Do you have a favorite WWHGD event? ("Maybe Boundaries at Columbia University in New York") 18:40  When did your passion for geography start? Rand-McNally Road Atlas Laura Ingalls Wilder International School, Kampala, Uganda 22:40   Staying true to building community by making connections to folks with geography, data, and tech. Being an advocate and active learner. Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.

On this episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, hosts Terri Ryan and Gwyneth Holt talk with Meredith Gore, an Associate Professor within the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Gore is a convergence researcher and social scientist who shares her work in conservation criminology, restorative justice and participatory mapping techniques in Madagascar. 00:45   What is a convergence researcher? - a discussion of system science and sorting wicked problems https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/learn/research-types/learn-about-convergence-research https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_problem  01:50   How did you select this complex set of social science topics? 04:00   What do you mean by "conservation crime"? 05:45   How did you select your focus from a bottomless well of related issues, and who's helping you?  06:30   Working example of the many problems: illegal sea cucumber harvesting https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/waters-mexico-fishing-vital-sea-creature-banned-still-happening-rcna39072 07:00   Madagascar, the trade in critically-endangered ploughshare tortoises, and the associated deforestation. https://www.turtleconservancy.org/programs/ploughshare-tortoise 07:45   Combating wildlife trafficking and, in particular, the state of elephant conservation, supported by data and mapping. 09:00   Southern Africa: Vultures ("ecosystem engineers") are also killed because they reveal the location of the dead elephant as they circle, potentially exposing poachers.  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/world/africa/vultures-poisoned-botswana-poachers-elephants.html 10:00   Approaching wicked problems with data. 11:00   Restorative justice through collaboration with former turtle traffickers.  12:15   Affecting the market in illegal animal parts through education. 13:00  Distinguishing between legal and illegal wildlife trade in purchasing. 14:00  Reasons for poaching unrelated to profit, and the use of participatory mapping in Madagascar. https://www.lemurconservationnetwork.org/on-the-ground-meredith-gore/ 15:00  Including women in non-accusatory participatory mapping through projective questioning. 17:30   Have you witnessed much change in Madagascar over the past 15 years? 19:00  The visible impact of the Madagascar drought on land-use changes and the human condition. 20:30  If you could solve one global challenge, what would it be? Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.

On this episode of Through the Human Geography Lens, hosts Terri Ryan and Gwyneth Holt talk with Tom Fitzwater, Chief of the Demographic and Economic Studies Branch within the International Program Center at the US Census Bureau.  01:10  Tom's role at the Census Bureau, his training for the position, and the history of the International Program Center. https://www.census.gov/en.html https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/international-programs.html 03:10  His current work on the US decadal census, describing the value and complexity of this (and every) census. https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-census-center-of-population.html 05:05  Looking for communities that are hard to count. (See the term "net coverage error" on the website below) https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/coverage-measurement/da.html  06:20  Why does the US Census Bureau have an International Program? https://www.census.gov/data/software/tasc.html 08:10  How do you estimate the world's population? What's the process? https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/international-programs/about/global-mapping.html 10:10  Defining a Cohort Component Population Projection 11:30  Are there countries outside of the US that rely on the US Census Bureau for their internal population survey data? 13:50  Delivering consultation, training, and technical assistance to teach population survey methods to other national statistics agencies. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/international-programs/about/training-tech-asst.html 15:30  Defining the International Database (IDB) that contains population estimates and projections for 227 countries, territories, and areas out to 2100.  https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/international-programs/about/idb.html 17:40  Soon Census will start estimating and projecting one level down, sub-nationally, with data to be available around November 2022. https://www.census.gov/data.html Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the WWHGD sponsors and should not be construed as an endorsement.