The Gap in Cartographic Methodology That Hurts Our Own Communities | Kate Hoffert | TEDxUConn

Challenges Faced by Underserved Communities in Cartography

• Lack of resources for comprehensive mapping and infrastructure investment creates a cycle of decline.
• Inadequate cartography leads to gaps in data collection, hindering development.
• Imprecise land-use planning results in property disputes, unsustainable development, and disadvantages in essential services.
• Insufficient GIS funding affects economic development, causing businesses to leave, buildings to be abandoned, and population to decline.
• Poor cartography leads to inefficient resource allocation, resulting in financial losses.
• Environmental hazards that are not properly mapped and accounted for can cause pollution control issues that impact the entire world.
• Limited cartographic research hinders advancements in areas like road safety and property investments.

Importance of Addressing the Needs of Underserved Communities

• Underserved communities need funding to break the cycle of poverty and achieve success.
• Accurate cartography is crucial for disaster prevention, as seen in the case of the Paradise Fire in California.
• Open-source GIS software and community initiatives can provide solutions to address these challenges.
• Collaboration with educational institutions and utilizing available archives can enhance data sharing and knowledge dissemination.
• Encouraging open data sharing, like NOAA sharing weather data for free, can be a valuable resource.
• Low-budget community initiatives can create positive environmental change.