Projects
Miradas Desde Renca
Urban Planning Studio
Mirada Desde Renca was a semester-long studio course working for the municipality of Renca, Chile. Through this project, we aimed to understand how the community can collectively manage the impacts of top-down change, particularly with the introduction of the new Metro Line 7, by centering residents' voices and moving beyond traditional planning approaches.
As part of the project, I led the development and implementation of a community engagement strategy that used participatory mapping, interviews, and interactive activities to gather and spatialize resident input. I analyzed the resulting qualitative data in ArcGIS Pro. I visualized community priorities through an interactive Mapbox web map, translating local knowledge and insights into actionable planning guidance to inform the project’s recommendations. The interactive map and corresponding data are available on the project site.
The Sonic Ecology of New York
Independent Project
The Sonic Ecology of New York City is an interactive geospatial study examining how natural and mechanical soundscapes are distributed across New York City's five boroughs, and who bears the burden of living in acoustically degraded environments. The project maps the uneven presence of birdsong, tree canopy, and green space against the density of noise complaints, revealing a stark spatial inequality in urban sound. By layering census tract-level poverty and income data onto this sonic typology, the project frames noise not merely as an aesthetic concern but as an environmental justice issue, one that falls disproportionately on communities with the fewest resources to escape it.
I assembled and processed five public datasets: eBird occurrence records, NYC 311 noise complaints, the NYC Street Tree Census, NYC Parks boundaries, and American Community Survey census tract data, using Python, Geopandas, and QGIS. I constructed a 500-meter grid across the city and scored each cell on a natural sound index weighted by bird species richness, tree density, and park coverage, as well as a mechanical noise index derived from complaint density. I then classified each cell into one of four sonic typologies: Sonic Refuge, Sonic Burden Zone, Contested Soundscape, and Acoustic Void, and performed a spatial join between census tract geometries and the grid to assign granular, tract-level poverty and income data to each cell. The final dataset was exported as GeoJSON and brought to life through a custom Mapbox GL JS web map.
Passion Valley, CA Comprehensive Plan
Mock Comprehensive Plan
*Click image to view full project*
Passion Valley, California, was a fictional city created for a graduate Land Use and Planning studio. While the city itself was fictional, the planning process relied entirely on real demographic, economic, environmental, and spatial data. Our team developed a comprehensive plan to guide the city's future growth, addressing land use, housing, transportation, economic development, and public infrastructure. The scenario centered on Passion Valley's identity as the home of California's passion flower industry and its location halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. With the arrival of the new Los a Las high-speed rail line, the city anticipated significant population growth—particularly from hybrid workers seeking a more affordable place to live, as well as increased tourism centered around its annual Passion Flower Harvest Festival.
I served as the project's cartographer, data analyst, and planning strategist. Using GIS, I created maps illustrating existing conditions, development constraints, and future land use scenarios while analyzing projected population growth to estimate future demand for housing, transportation, parks, and other public services. I also helped shape the comprehensive plan by translating the city's goals into land use and policy recommendations that balanced economic development, tourism, and quality of life while positioning Passion Valley to capitalize on the opportunities created by high-speed rail.
Transit Equity Analysis of Chicago
GIS Project
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The Pedestrian and Cyclist Fatality Analysis in Chicago was a GIS-based research project that examined traffic safety patterns across the city to identify areas with elevated risks for pedestrians and cyclists. The project aimed to support Chicago’s Vision Zero 2026 goals by using spatial analysis to highlight where targeted infrastructure improvements could most effectively reduce fatalities and improve overall street safety.
I independently conducted the research and analysis, collecting and cleaning spatial data on pedestrian and cyclist fatalities from multiple city and state sources. Using ArcGIS Pro, I performed regression analysis to explore correlations between built environment factors and fatality occurrences, and implemented a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to integrate weighted map layers. Through this process, I pinpointed high-risk zones and developed data-driven recommendations for interventions to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Accessible Subway Stations Network Analysis
GIS Project
This project looks at how accessible New York City's subway system is for people who rely on ADA-accessible stations. Using MTA station data, I mapped areas within a 15-minute walk of subway stations that are either fully or partially ADA-accessible. Instead of measuring straight-line distance, this analysis follows the actual street network to show realistic walking access. The final map highlights which neighborhoods have good access to accessible transit and where there may still be gaps, providing a useful tool for understanding equity in the city's transit system.
I completed this project in QGIS using OpenStreetMap street data and the QNEAT3 plugin for network analysis. First, I filtered the MTA station dataset to include only fully and partially ADA-accessible stations and exported them as a new layer. I then built a pedestrian network from OpenStreetMap data and ran a service area analysis to generate 15-minute walking catchments around each accessible station.
Kingsborough Houses
Mock RFP Response
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This project was a full mock response to NYCHA and HPD’s Seniors First RFP, proposing a service-enriched affordable senior housing development at the Kingsborough and Morris Houses in Brooklyn. The proposal envisioned a 120,800 SF mixed-use senior residence combining affordable housing with on-site healthcare, community facilities, and commercial services to support aging in place.
The development included:
- 100+ senior residential units
- On-site medical clinic (in partnership with an FQHC)
- Grocery store with fresh food access
- Fitness center, library, and multipurpose community spaces
- Fully ADA-compliant design and Green Communities sustainability standards
As a Developer, I led the project’s financial and implementation strategy, with a focus on feasibility and real-world delivery. I also did the design for the final RFP document.
Key responsibilities included:
Financial feasibility & pro forma: Developed the financing narrative and budget assumptions, including capital stack structure (grants, tax credits, debt, and operating revenue).
Development strategy: Defined the overall project concept, phasing, and long-term property management approach.
Regulatory & policy alignment: Ensured the proposal aligned with NYCHA/HPD requirements, zoning (R6, 4.8 FAR), and affordable housing programs.
Team coordination: Worked closely with the architect and project manager to align design decisions with cost, constructibility, and operational constraints.
Implementation planning: Outlined post-construction operations, leasing strategy, and compliance with regulatory agreements.
Hurricane Sandy's Impact on the Two Bridges Neighborhood
Group Climate Equity Research Project
*Click image to view full project*
The project Hurricane Sandy in Two Bridges examined the disproportionate impacts of flooding on public versus private housing in Manhattan’s Two Bridges neighborhood, an area situated between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. The research highlighted how low elevation, aging infrastructure, and socioeconomic vulnerability compounded the effects of Hurricane Sandy on residents, especially those living in NYCHA developments. Using data from NYC Open Data, HUD, and community interviews, the study found that NYCHA buildings reported significantly more damage than private housing. Interviews with residents, shop owners, and community leaders revealed ongoing concerns about inadequate flood protections, delayed recovery, and inequitable planning processes. The project concluded by recommending improved evacuation planning, more equitable resource distribution, and greater resident participation in resilience planning.
I was responsible for the project’s GIS and data analysis components. This included collecting and processing spatial datasets, such as MapPLUTO, Sandy Inundation Zones, and HUD’s damage estimates, and conducting statistical analyses to compare the extent of storm impacts between NYCHA and non-NYCHA properties. I created maps visualizing flood exposure and damage patterns across Two Bridges, and you performed a two-sample proportion test to assess differences in the effects. My GIS work provided the quantitative foundation for the team’s findings, connecting physical vulnerabilities to broader issues of housing equity and climate resilience.
