Tools

Introduction

The UIC School of Public Health (UIC-SPH) Emergency Management and Resiliency Planning (EMRP) program, in collaboration with the Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL) and subject matter experts, developed a series of Midwest Comprehensive Visualization Dashboards (MCVD) focused on environmental health and justice issues.

The MCVD includes an interactive visualization interface with dynamic maps and supporting documentation detailing data sources, methodology, findings, and resources. The first two versions of MCVD (EJ.1 andEJ.2) identified that several hazardous sources in Chicago were disproportionately concentrated near public schools serving predominantly Latinx student populations.

Building on these findings, the third version of MCVD (EJ.3)utilized a community-based participatory design approach shaped through collaboration with community groups and policymakers. This process focused on creating accessible data visualizations that helped residents understand environmental concerns while providing policymakers with tools to identify and address environmental justice challenges, including industrial impacts such as rail yards in Southwest Chicago.

Through continued stakeholder engagement and support from the UIC Library INDIGO portal, EJ.3 evolved based on community input. The final dashboard serves as an accessible resource to support environmental awareness, advocacy, transparency, and informed decision-making.

PHD Tool

The Proximity to Hazards Dashboard (PHD), als oknown as MCVD EJ.3, is the latest visualization tool in a series of environmental justice (EJ) interfaces first developed in 2019. A primary goalof the PHD is to improve the visual communication of environmental burdens and benefits across the study area.

PHD Tool

Using the PHD Tool

The Proximity to Hazards Dashboard provides users with essential geographic information, including Chicago community areas, landmarks, streets, highways, and industrial corridors where a signicant portion of industrial activity occurs.

Selected sources for the PHD:

PHD Full Document

Proximity to Hazards Dashboard

Introduction

PHD Tool

Using the PHD Tool

Selected sources for the PHD:

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