This capstone course for majors in GW's Geography program engages students in valuable projects with urban planners, local government, and community organizations. Students apply geographic concepts and methods to real-world urban issues.
Semester Reports
Fall 2024
Professor: David Rain
Students Reporting: 4
Time Reported: 60 hours
Community Partners:
Students in GEOG 4195W used their geographic knowledge and analysis skills to assist three different community partners with research and data-driven projects.
Students worked with Capitol Hill Village, an organization serving the elderly community in DC, to identify factors contributing to social isolation among seniors and develop strategies to combat this issue. Students produced maps and other deliverables to help the organization better understand accessibility challenges for elderly residents and raise awareness about social isolation.
Another team collaborated with the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) on multiple aspects of a transportation project, including data collection, analysis, and dashboard creation. Students conducted preliminary research, created visualizations, and presented their findings to inform transportation planning decisions.
A third team partnered with Fairfax County Department of Transportation to improve curbside parking policies. Students collected and analyzed data to provide the county with more reliable information from which to draw conclusions and make policy decisions. The project also included assessing accessibility and transportation needs to help policymakers improve local transportation access.
Student Comments:
"Through this project, I learned about the mechanics of working with non-GW affiliated organizations, and I was able to bolster my GIS skills through the production of maps showcasing the issue of accessibility for the elderly community." - Student working Capital Hill Village
"During my experience at The Fairfax County Department of Transportation, I gained an understanding of their accessibility and transport needs. I also worked on informing policymakers on improving local transportation access." - Student working with The Fairfax Department of Transportation
"We worked with Capitol Hill Village, an elderly community in DC, to identify how social isolation can impact the elderly community and ways to combat this isolation. We also collaborated with them to discuss how Capitol Hill Village can make further strides to lessen these feelings of social isolation and strengthen the sense of community that already exists within the Village."- Student working Capital Hill Village
Fall 2023
Professor: David Rain
Students Reporting: 20
Time Reported: over 1,000 hours
Example Student Projects:
Curbside Infrastructure in Tysons, Virginia. The student team on this project analyzed and assessed the curbside infrastructure in Tysons, Virginia. This included studying elements such as sidewalks, bike lanes, parking spaces, bus stops, and other features of the streetscape. Students used their skills as geographers, including mapping techniques, conducting field observations, and analyzing spatial data to understand the current state of curbside infrastructure and make recommendations for improvements.
