Datascape: Bridging the Gap

Christine Johnson Rebecca McKevitz Bryce Petty Zack Rees Wes Rogers

DATASCAPE bridging the gap

DATASCAPE

A Brief Introduction The Purpose

Michigan City

Datascape; “A visual representation of all the measurable forces that may influence, steer or regulate the work of an architect.”

In order to further analyze the surroundings of the site and make appropriate design decisions, GIS mapping was utilized to gather data about Porter County, Indiana. With census data, GIS has the capability to inform designers of local situations and trends that can enhance the design and improve decisions about program elements.

The purpose of this phase of the project is to gather hard data in an effort to analyze the current condition of the site and become more knowledgeable about how this area can be upgraded through a redesign

Town of Pines Beverly Shores

Dune Acres Ogden Dunes Gary

Porter Burns Harbor Chesterton

Portage Chesterton Lake Station Hobart South Haven Hobart

Our Process After defining four focus areas, United States Census and IndianaMAP Data was compiled and organized into GIS maps.

Multiple maps were generated for each focus question in order to analyze trends of data over the course of a few years. The comparison of these maps led to an understanding of trends and transitions in this community. Overall, the Datascape is an intuitive and measurable report that uses specific data to answer questions and inform designers of relevant information about a specific site.

Valparaiso Merrillville

Winfield Lakes of the Four Seasons

Hebron

Kouts

Legend Porter County City Boundries Highways

0 1 2

4

6

Miles 8

±

Our Site Location

Michigan City

The Focus

With the vast array of data available through the United States Census and GIS mapping, it was necessary to focus in on a few specific research questions that would lead to relevant information related to design decisions. The four main areas of focus in this Datascape are: • • • •

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Beverly Shores "

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Town of Pines

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Beverly Shores

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The remainder of the Datascape report will show findings related to these conditions in Porter County, Indiana and analyze the effect of this information on a future design.

Town of Pines

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Town of

" " Town of Pines "

Beverly Shores

Transitioning Population Density Transitioning Age Population Transitioning Income Stability Transitioning Education Levels

Michigan " "City Beverly Shores Michigan City

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1 " -0 -0 " " !-01 " 0 2 " U-" 0 " 0 4" 9 4 " 1 0 6 "" " 4-I" "" -0 Dune Acres -0 6 0 1 Porter " -0 " 02 " " 0 " " " Burns Harbor 4-U 01 !

9 4 6 Ogden Dunes -0 " I -0 1 Gary " "" 20 464Dune -U-0 12Acres -0 0 6 -0 0 -0 1 " Portage U ! "" 94 " "!" "64- " " " " " " I -0 ! " " " ! " Dune Acres " 64 " Chesterton Porter " " "" " ! " " Gary Burns Harbor " " " " " " " " " Ogden " Dunes " "" " Gary "! "" 64-U-0 12-0 " -0 Porter 1 Portage ! " "" " "!" " " " " " Burns Harbor " " " "" " ! " " " !

Ogden Dunes "" """ " Porter "" " " 64-U-0 12-0 !

Chesterton " " -0 " Portage 1 " " Burns Harbor ! " " " GaryOgden Dunes " " ! " " "" Legend " " ! ! " "" "" "" " " 64-U-0 12-0 " " -0 " 1 " Portage " Chesterton "!" " " " " ! "! " " ! Scho " " ! " " " " "" " ! "" Chesterton " " " " "" " Recre ! " " " " " !

Road "!" " " Legend " " " " !

Trailw ! Schools "! " Legend " ! " Recreational Facilities Railw Miles Schools !

City B Legend 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 Roadways Facilities "! Recreational Mana Schools Trailways Our General Site Location Recreational Facilities Railways " Roadways "

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Railways Trailways !

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Managed Lands

City Boundries Railways Managed Lands City Boundries !

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Miles 4 Miles 4

± ±±

Trailways Roadways City Boundries

Managed Lands

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Miles 4

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1

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0.5

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Gary

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Gary

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Gary

DATASCAPE

Issue #1 Transitioning Population Density

The trail should be accessible to as many people as possible.

Question: Where are the people and how have they moved over the last 10 years?

Analysis As shown in the 2000 population map, there were only a maximum of 6000 people in Porter County, as opposed to the increase to 8000 people in 2010.

There was also a dramatic shift northward and eastward in the ten years from 200 to 2010, showing more population along the lakefront. This is good news for the proposed trail system because there will be a larger population to sustain traffic flow along this corridor, especially if this area continues to follow the current trends.

Michigan City Town of Pines Beverly Shores

Michigan City Town of Pines Beverly Shores

Dune Acres Ogden Dunes Gary

Dune Acres

Porter Burns Harbor Chesterton

Ogden Dunes Gary

Portage Chesterton Lake Station

Porter Burns Harbor Chesterton

Portage Chesterton Lake Station

Hobart South Haven

Hobart South Haven

Hobart Hobart

Legend

Valparaiso

Legend Population 2010

Valparaiso

Merrillville

Legend

Winfield

Merrillville

Population Shift Legend

Lakes of the Four Seasons

Population 2000

0 - 1000 Winfield

1001 - 2000

Lakes of the Four Seasons

2001 - 3000

0 - 1000 Hebron

3001 - 4000

1001 - 2000

Kouts

Legend

2001 - 3000

4001 - 5000

Hebron

Kouts

5001 - 6000

3001 - 4000

Legend

Porter County

4001 - 5000

Porter County 7001 - 8000

City Boundries

0

1.5

3

6 0 1

2

9 4

6

Miles 12

Miles 8

¡¾±

Porter County Population 2000

Highways 5001

6001 - 7000

City Boundries

- 6000

0

1.5

3

6 0 1

2

9 4

6

Miles 12 Miles 8

Porter County Population 2010

¡¾±

8001 - 9000

Highways

Issue #2 Transitioning Age Population

The design should reflect the age needs of the surrounding community Question: Is there a disparity between the older people getting older and the younger people leaving for more urban zones like Chicago in Porter County?

DATASCAPE

Analysis For age comparisons, it is easy to see that there is a much larger population of 65 and up in Porter County than there are 18-21 year olds. There is also a significant number of 40-49-year-olds, which suggests that there is a population that is reaching retirement age and will want access to a trail that exposes them to nature and exercise options. This Michigan City data suggests that the trail should Town be designed with of Pines Beverly Shores an older population in mind when considering key services that will be available.

Michigan City

Dune Acres Ogden Dunes Gary

South Haven

Valparaiso

201 - 400

Hebron

301 - 400

2

4

15

6

801 - 1000

501 - 600

501 - 600

Hebron

Miles 20 Miles

Porter County Population 18-21

¡¾±

601 - 700

Kouts

1201 - 1400 Legend 1401 - 1600

8

301 - 400

Lakes of the Four Seasons

401 - 500

¡¾

1801 - 2000Highways

10

201 - 300

Winfield

401 - 500

Porter County

0 1

101 - 200

601 - 800

1601 - 1800City Boundries

5

0 - 100

Merrillville

201 - 300

Lakes of the Four Seasons

1001 - 1200

Kouts

AGE_65_UP Valparaiso

101 - 200

Winfield

401 - 600

Lakes of the Four Seasons

Hobart

0- 100

Merrillville

Porter Age

South Haven

AGE 40-49 Valparaiso

Legend

Hobart

Porter Age

South Haven

Porter Burns Harbor Chesterton

Portage Chesterton Lake Station

Legend

Hobart

0 - 200

Winfield

Gary

Hobart

AGE_18_21

Merrillville

Ogden Dunes

Portage Chesterton Lake Station

Population Shift

Hobart

Dune Acres

Porter Ogden Dunes Burns Harbor Chesterton Gary

Legend

Hobart

2.5

Town of Pines Beverly Shores

Dune Acres

Porter Burns Harbor Chesterton

Portage Chesterton Lake Station

0

Michigan City

Town of Pines Beverly Shores

0

2.5

5

10 0 1

Miles 20

15 2

4

6

Miles 8

Porter County Population 40-49

Hebron

701 - 800 Legend 801 - 900

¡¾

Porter County

901 -City 1000 Boundries 1001Highways - 1100

±

0

601 - 700

Kouts

2.5

5

10 0 1

2

15 4

6

Miles 20

Miles 8

Porter County Population 65+

701 - 800 Legend 801 - 900

Porter County

901 - 1000 City Boundries Highways 1001 - 1100

±

DATASCAPE

Issue #3 Transitioning Income Stability

The trail should be utilized by a variety of income levels to revitalize the surrounding area.

Question: What areas show potential for revitalization due to the use of a nearby trail system?

Analysis According to data from the 2010 census a large portion of Porter County to the east and southeast was considered much less densely impoverished than the center and northwest.

The most impoverished were in a small district tract in the center of Porter County with the tracts immediately north of it also showing higher levels of poverty. The most northwestern tracts show similar high levels of impoverishment within two to four tracts.

After analyzing data from the 2012 census there is definitely a trend in the movement of poverty. In both of the most impoverished areas (the center and the northwestern tracts) a dispersal and dilution occurs moving towards the immediate northeast. With the four most impoverished tracts there is a clear transition with the tracts becoming less impoverished in a specific tract density while excess seems to have been absorbed into the tracts immediately to the northeast.

Michigan City

Michigan City

Town of Pines Beverly Shores

Town of Pines Beverly Shores

Dune Acres Ogden Dunes Gary

Dune Acres

Porter Burns Harbor Chesterton

Ogden Dunes Gary

Portage Chesterton Lake Station

Porter Burns Harbor Chesterton

Portage Chesterton Lake Station

Hobart

Hobart

South Haven

South Haven

Hobart

Hobart

Valparaiso

These numbers do not necessarily show a minimizing of poverty rather a dispersal of those facing poverty. However some tracts did simply lower in impoverishment density. The maps show that a larger area will need to be addressed when considering those in poverty when dealing with sections of the site closely related to the darkest tracts on the maps.

Valparaiso

Merrillville

Merrillville

Legend

Winfield Lakes of the Four Seasons

Legend

Winfield Lakes of the Four Seasons

Poverty2010

Poverty2010

0 - 6%

0 - 6%

6.1 - 13% Legend Legend Hebron

6.1 - 13% Legend Legend

13.1 - 19% Poverty2010 Poverty2010

Kouts

Hebron

13.1 - 19% Poverty2010 Poverty2010 19.1 - 26% 0 - 6%0 - 6%

Kouts

0 - 6%0 - 6% 19.1 - 26%

Legend

Legend

6.1 - above 13% 26.1% and 6.1 - 13% Porter County

0 1 2

4

Miles 8

6 0 1

2

4

6

Miles 8

Porter Co. Poverty 2010

Miles

±±

City Boundries 13.1 -13.1 19%-

26.1% and 6.1 - above 13% 6.1 - 13% Porter County

19%

Highways

19.1 -19.1 26%- 26% 26.1%26.1% and above and above

0 1 2

4

Miles 8

6 0 1

2

4

6

Miles 8

Porter Co. Poverty 2012

Miles

±±

13.1 - 19% City Boundries

13.1 - 19%

Highways

19.1 -19.1 26%- 26% 26.1%26.1% and above and above

Issue #4 Transitioning Education Levels

The trail should act as a bridge between local educational institutions on a yearlong basis.

Question: What areas of the trail are near educational institutions and what are the levels of educational attainment in the immediate vicinity?

Analysis

DATASCAPE

In Porter County circa 2010, it is evident that the number of people with high school diplomas was much lower than in 2012. In other words, over those two years, the number of educated people in Porter County increased substantially.

Looking at the data below, it is interesting to see that the number of tracts that include a 40.1%+ density of people with a high school diploma increased from 7 tracts to 11 tracts. Likewise, there was a large increase in the number of tracts with a density of 30-40%, which went from 4 tracts to 9.

Education 2010

Education 2012

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Michigan City ! ! !

Town of Pines ! !

Beverly Shores

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Dune Acres ! ! !Ogden ! !Dunes Porter !

Burns Harbor

Gary

0%-10% = 3 Tracts 10%-20% = 9 Tracts 20%-30% = 9 Tracts 30%-40% = 4 Tracts 40.1%+ = 7 Tracts

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Chesterton

Gary

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Hobart

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Michigan City ! ! !

Town of Pines ! !

Beverly Shores ! !

Dune Acres ! !

Porter Burns Harbor Chesterton

Portage Chesterton Lake Station

Portage Chesterton Lake Station

0%-10% = 2 Tracts 10%-20% = 8 Tracts 20%-30% = 2 Tracts 30%-40% = 9 Tracts 40.1%+ = 11 Tracts

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Hobart

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Valparaiso

Valparaiso Merrillville

Merrillville

Because education can be seen as a backbone for the success of a community, and more importantly, public amenities, this trend looks promising in terms of the future of the trail design.

Clearly, this is a deserving community that is progressing towards an improved future and this trail can act as a catalyst for a healthier and more educated community.

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Lakes of the Four Seasons

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Legend

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Winfield

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Lakes of the Four Seasons

Poverty2010

Legend Legend 0 - 6% Schools !

6.1 - 13% ! Schools

!

Education2010 13.1Education2010 - 19% ! !

! ! ! Kouts !

Hebron

!

- 10%0 - 10% 19.1 - 026%

! !

Legend

! ! ! !

!

Winfield

Poverty2010

Legend Legend 0 - 6% Schools ! - 13% 6.1 ! Schools

!

Education2012 13.1 Education2012 - 19%

! ! !Kouts !

Hebron

0 - 10% 19.1 - 26% 0 - 10%

Legend

Legend

10.1 - 20% 26.1% and above 10.1 - 20% Porter County 20.1 - 30% City Boundries 20.1 - 30%

10.1-20% 26.1% 10.1-20% and above Porter County 20.1-30% 20.1-30% City Boundries

When designing the trail, ensuring the connection to local educational facilities and institutions will be meaningful to the residents of the area, and will support the upward trend of education in Porter County.

0 1 2

4

Miles 8

6 0 1

2

4

6

Miles 8

±±

Porter Co. Education Levels 2010 Miles Miles

Highways 30.1 - 40%

30.1 - 40%

40.1% 40.1% and above and above

0 1 2

4

Miles 8

6 0 1

2

4

6

Miles 8

±±

Porter Co. Education Levels 2012 Miles

Miles

Highways 30.1 -

40% 30.1 - 40%

40.1% and above 40.1% and abov

DATASCAPE

Conclusion Analysis Through the process of gathering data and compiling it into meaningful analysis maps, conclusions were formed about the population density, age demographic, income stability and education levels in Porter County. Within each of these categories, maps were compared in order to discover trends that will likely continue in the area. Below is a brief summary of each of the findings.

Analyzing the trends of this data created a very informative and useful Datascape that will strengthen the design of the regional trail system and will ensure that the trail is designed and utilized to its full potential, creating a relevant and meaningful experience for the residents of surrounding areas.

Population Density

Income Stability

Education Levels

Population Density: The population of Porter County increased by 2000 people over the course of 10 years, which is not a dramatic increase, but an increase nonetheless. People also seemed to move north and east within the county which means that there is a denser population closer to the water.

Through analyzing poverty maps, it was easy to see where the highest density of impoverished residents lived in both 2010 and 2012. Although in those two years poverty didn’t lessen in the county, it did show a trend of dispersal and movement around the county. Much of the county is considered lowincome areas and although that may shift, the situation doesn’t necessarily seem to be improving.

Education is the area where Porter County changed the most within two short years. When looking at the maps it is very apparent that there is a much higher population of educated residents in 2012 than there were in 2010. Although these tracts of densely educated people shifted around the county, the main trend is that there are many more high school graduates now than there were previously.

What this means for the design: When designing the trail through Porter County, it will be important to address impoverished areas along the trail, and ensure that the trail is still accessible to these people and that they are not neglected. The trail can be used as a tool to improve the situation of these areas as it will likely raise property values and will definitely add to the aesthetics of the area. Safety will be a necessary focus in the area where the trail crosses the most densely impoverished areas and lighting appropriate lighting will need to be implemented.

What this means for the design: Education is clearly a priority of the people in Porter County and it is only right that the design encourages and enhances that effort. Designing the trail as an educational element in itself would be much appreciated by the community and will only add to the richness and value of the trail. It will also be important to connect the trail to local institutions, schools, museums and other educational facilities to further educate the community, and allow them to use the trail as an asset in their educational pursuits.

What this means for the design: The trail design should account for the densest population and use to be on the northeast edge of Porter County, which will allow for much connection and involvement with the lakefront.

Age Population There is a much larger population of middle-aged and older people in Porter County than there are young people. The largest population is the 65+ age group and second to that is the 40-49 year old population.

What this means for the design: With a large population of older residents, one of the main concerns of the design should be safety and accessibility. Taking these two concepts into consideration will ensure that the residents of this area will be able to utilize the trail design. It should also be considered that many of these people will be nearing or may have reached retirement, and therefore there will be much use of the trail during daytime hours.