Build a community asset map

The goal of community asset mapping is to gain a baseline understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in a neighborhood. An asset is anything that builds up a community, like a resource, such as schools and green space, or a strengthening characteristic like community cohesion and resilience. By taking stock of existing opportunities and areas of need, you can visualize and prioritize what and where solutions would best serve the community. This exercise is often used in youth participatory action projects in which youth are engaged in critically assessing their neighborhoods and come up with innovative solutions to meet the challenges they uncover.

In this tutorial, there will be three types of data you will explore: current community conditions, historic decisions and practices, and health outcomes. By exploring all three, you will gain a more comprehensive understanding of the root cause of current conditions and outcomes in the community. It is important to consider each of these types of data to better understand the historic and present-day experiences of racial equity and social justice. By visualizing the data on a map, you can begin to see patterns of benefits and burdens experienced by different areas of the community. Although this workflow will focus on neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland, the data is available for the entire United States, so you can re-create this workflow for your community.

In this tutorial, you will do the following:

• Explore data layers
• Create bookmarks
• Add layers from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World
• Style and add effects to layers
• Create a sketch layer

This tutorial was last tested on January 18, 2024.

View final result

Requirements

• ArcGIS account (see options for software access)

Build a community asset map

Explore data layers

You will start by opening a prepared web map with data for Baltimore and explore multiple layers in the area.

1. Open the Baltimore community asset map.

   The map opens in Map Viewer with the Legend pane open.

   

   Tip:

   The map uses the Human Geography basemap, which is ideal for exploring census-related data.

2. Sign in to your ArcGIS organizational account.

   Note:

   If you don't have an organizational account, see options for software access.

   Before you start editing the map, you will explore Map Viewer.

   Map Viewer includes two vertical toolbars. The Contents (dark) toolbar and the Settings (light) toolbar. Use the Contents toolbar to manage and view the map contents and work with the map. Use the Settings toolbar to access options for configuring and interacting with the map layers and other map components.

   

3. Click the Expand or Collapse button at the bottom of each toolbar to expand or collapse them.

   

   It can be helpful to collapse the toolbars so you can see more of the map. Likewise, if it helps you to see the toolbar labels, you can expand the toolbars again.

4. On the Contents toolbar, click Layers.

   

   The Layers pane appears. It contains the Baltimore data layers group layer. Group layers are like folders that contain multiple layers.

5. Expand the group layer.

   

   Note:

   The layers in the Baltimore data layers group layer can all be found in ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World: ACS Median Household Income Variables - Boundaries, Mapping Inequality Redlining Areas, and PLACES: Local Data for Better Health. Note that this workflow can be repeated for a different city because the data is nationwide.

   The group layer is configured to show one layer at a time. It is currently showing the Median Household Income layer.

   These layers help us better understand historic policies and provide insight about the conditions and outcomes communities are experiencing today. The median household income data is provided by the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), which is updated annually when the Census Bureau releases new figures, so the data is always current.

   

   The data layer shows the median household income for each census tract in Baltimore. Visualizing median household income patterns provides insight into the distribution of economic well-being for residents throughout a project area. A census tract is a geographical unit used by the United States Census Bureau to report data about those who live within that unit. Census tracts typically represent about 4,000 to 8,000 people.

   Census tracts are a helpful unit of geography because they provide a way to compare data across tracts because they represent roughly the same number of residents. However, they also have limitations. Tracts representing higher population densities are often smaller in area, and tracts representing lower population densities are often larger in area.

   Note:

   To learn more about census geographical units, see United States Census Geography.

   Consider answering the following questions:

   • What are some strengths and limitations to using census tracts as a geographical unit?
   • Are there other ways or sources you can think of to obtain and use data about residents in a neighborhood?
   • What other data on existing resources and opportunity could be informative to understand how benefits and burdens have been distributed throughout the city?

   To understand what the layer style means, you will view the legend.

6. On the Contents toolbar, click Legend.

   The legend shows you that the tracts in green on average have a higher median income relative to the national median income. Tracts in blue on average have a lower median income relative to the national median income. The symbology of this layer helps you understand whether a neighborhood has income levels above or below the national median.

   

   What do you notice about which areas of Baltimore have higher and lower median income levels?

   Next, you will explore health outcomes data.

7. On the Contents toolbar, click Layers. If necessary, expand the group layer and click the Mental health distress prevalence layer and select it.

   

   By selecting the layer, it becomes visible on the map. By clicking the layer, you activated it. The blue line next to the layer name indicates that the layer is activated.

8. On the Settings toolbar, click Styles.

   A legend appears at the bottom of the map for the activated layer.

   

   In this layer, the light-yellow color represents tracts where a lower percentage of people reported frequent mental health distress. Areas in dark blue represent tracts where a higher percentage of people reported frequent mental health distress. In general, the areas of darker blue would be areas where a public health or intervention addressing mental health would benefit the population.

   Do you notice any patterns emerging with the areas that experience higher and lower reports of mental health distress and higher and lower median income?

   Next, you will explore a historic policy that may have contributed to the outcomes you just observed.

9. In the Layers pane, activate and select the Mapping Inequality Redlining Areas layer.

   

   Redlining grades were used in the 1930s to rate different neighborhoods so banks could determine whether to issue loans for home buying. However, the rating process was influenced by racial prejudice and bias. Areas that were considered a safer investment, which were largely populated by wealthier, white residents, received the highest grade, an A for best. Areas that were rated an undesirable investment, which were mostly populated by communities of color, received the lowest grade, D for hazardous.

   The rating system continued to be used and has had long-term consequences in determining which areas received decades of investment, such as businesses, infrastructure improvements, and opportunities, and which areas experienced under investment, with few economic opportunities, poorly maintained infrastructure, and few home ownership opportunities.

   It is important to consider historical context in equity work. Laws and practices that were created long ago provide insight into the resilience and perseverance of communities as well as opportunities to build new, equitable laws. Many communities that were historically disadvantaged due to such laws may be areas with fewer access to opportunities and resources, but they can also be places rich with stories of hard work, determination, and strong social ties. This makes them ideal places to add resources because there is both strong need and desire to make use of the new opportunities.

   Note:

   To learn more about the history and current-day impacts of redlining, see the story The lines that shape our cities.

   Do you notice any patterns with the historic redlining data and the two previous datasets you observed?

   Before you continue, you will save a copy of the map to your ArcGIS account.

10. On the Contents toolbar, click Save and open and click Save as.

    

11. In the Save map window, add your name or initials to the end of the Title. Click Save.

You are more familiar with using Map Viewer and explored each of the layers in the Baltimore data layers group layer. You saved a copy of the map and are now ready to create bookmarks and add layers.

Create bookmarks to compare neighborhoods

In this section, you will use map bookmarks to compare the three data layers for different neighborhoods in Baltimore.

1. In the Layers pane, select the Median Household Income layer.
2. Zoom in to the area just west of the center of the city, a neighborhood named Harlem Park.

   

3. In the Contents toolbar, click Bookmarks.

   

4. In the Bookmarks pane, click Add bookmark.

   

5. Type Harlem Park-Upton and click Add.

   

   Next, you will create a second bookmark for another neighborhood.

6. Zoom to the north part of the city, around a neighborhood named Mount Washington.

   

7. In the Bookmarks pane, create a bookmark named Mt. Washington.

   

   You now have two bookmarks for two neighborhoods in Baltimore.

8. With the map still zoomed in to the Mt. Washington bookmark, in the Layers pane, select each of the data layers in the group layer.

   The Mt. Washington area generally has a higher median household income, lower reported mental distress, and was historically rated A and B, the two highest-rated categories for the Mapping Inequality Redlining Areas layer.

9. In the Bookmarks pane, click the Harlem Park-Upton bookmark.
10. In the Layers pane, select each of the data layers and observe any patterns.

    The Harlem Park-Upton area generally has a lower median household income, higher reported mental distress, and was historically rated D and C, the two lowest-rated categories for the Mapping Inequality Redlining Areas layer.

You created two bookmarks of different neighborhoods in Baltimore and compared the layers in the Baltimore data layers group layer for each area. Next, you will add more data on neighborhood assets.

Add more asset layers

In this section, you will add more assets to your map. You will add the locations of public schools and parks. Public schools are an important community space both for learning and recreation. Schools often serve as community spaces and are a vital part of a neighborhood. Parks and green space are also important assets in a community, providing recreation and greenery. Access to parks and green space has been associated with lower mental health distress.

1. In the Layers pane, click the Add button.

   

2. In the Add layer pane, click My content and choose Living Atlas.

   

3. In the search bar, type public schools and press Enter.

   

4. In the list of results, for Public School Characteristics - Current, click the Add button.

   

   The layer is added to your map and the Layers pane.

5. In the Add layer pane, in the search bar, type parks and press Enter.
6. In the list of results, for USA Parks, click Add.

   The USA Parks layer is added to the map.

   

   The USA Parks layer is difficult to see over the Mapping Inequality Redlining Areas layer, so you will adjust the layer style.

7. In the Add layer pane, click the back button to return to the Layers pane.
8. In the Layers pane, if necessary, click the USA Parks layer.
9. On the Settings toolbar, click Styles to open the Styles pane.

   

10. In the Styles pane, under Pick a style, click Location (single symbol).

    

    The USA Parks layer updates to show all locations by a single symbol.

    

    Next, you will update the style to a green color that better represents parks and green space.

11. In the Styles pane, for Location (single symbol), click Style options.

    

12. In the Style options pane, click the symbol under Symbol style.

    

    You want the USA Parks layer to be visible on top of all the other data layers, so you will use a vector polygon type of symbol. This will allow you to use a hatch fill style.

13. In the Symbol style window that appears, click Basic polygon.
14. For Category, choose Hatch Fill and choose G Striped Fill.

    

15. Click Done.
16. Click Color.

    

17. In the Select color window, type a6ff00 and click Done.

    

18. In the Style options pane, click Done twice.

    The USA Parks layer is styled.

    

    The hatch fill style makes the USA Parks layer visible even when the park features are the same color as the background and still allows you to see the color of the data underneath.

You added two layers from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World and styled them so they are visible on top of the layers in the Baltimore data layers group layer. Next, you will further enhance the layer style by using effects.

Add effects to asset layers

To create a unique and eye-catching map in Map Viewer, you will apply effects to parks and school layers. The Drop shadow effect makes objects look like they are floating. It applies a drop shadow that follows the outline of the feature. This effect is useful when you want some features to stand out from the rest of the features on a busy map.

Note:

To learn more about using effects, see Use effects.

1. In the Layers pane, ensure the Public Schools Current - Characteristics layer is selected. On the Settings toolbar, click Effects.

   

2. Click the Drop shadow toggle button.

   

   The Public Schools Current - Characteristics layer now has the Drop shadow effect and stands out better on the map. You will turn on the same effect for the USA Parks layer.

3. In the Layers pane, activate the USA Parks layer.
4. In the Effects pane, click the Drop shadow toggle button.

   Now both layers have a Drop shadow effect.

5. Click each of the layers in the Baltimore data layers group layer and review how the parks and schools layers appear on top of each of the layers.

You added the Drop shadow effect to each of the added asset layers. The layers stand out more and are easier for your viewers to see.

Sketch your project area

In this section, you will use Sketch tools to highlight a project focus area. Sketch tools allow you to create points, lines, and polygons on your map. They are useful for including customized and local information on your map. You want to determine where you want to focus your project so that it would be an area that would benefit from more park space.

First, you will explore all the data you have on your map so far to determine where your project focus area will be located.

1. On the Contents toolbar, click Bookmarks. In the Bookmarks pane, click the Harlem Park-Upton bookmark.

   The map zooms to the Harlem Park-Upton area of Baltimore.

   Next, you will consider which areas have lower median household incomes, higher mental health distress rates, and were historically redlined that also have public schools without a park nearby. Areas that have all these characteristics would most benefit from more green space.

2. In the Layers pane, click each of the layers in the group layer and compare different areas within Harlem Park.

   You determine that you want to focus your project on an area toward the northeast of Harlem Park.

   

   Next, you will create a sketch layer to outline your focus area.

3. In the Layers pane, click the drop-down arrow next to the Add button and choose Create Sketch layer.

   

   The Sketch pane appears along with Sketch tools.

4. Click the Line tool.

   

5. On the map, click the first corner of the neighborhood outline.

   

6. Click the next corner of the neighborhood boundary.

   

7. Continue clicking corners of the neighborhood boundary. When you are ready to close the boundary, double-click the final point to close the polygon.

   

   Next, you will style the line.

8. In the Sketch pane, for Color, choose a bright green color. For Width, set it to 3.

   

9. Click the Select tool to deselect the line you just created.

   

   The project area boundaries have been drawn on your map using Sketch tools.

   

   You created a sketch layer to show the boundary of your focus project area. Using a sketch layer allowed you to create a custom shape that did not need to rely on an existing feature layer polygon from another layer.

10. In the Layers pane, turn off the visibility for Baltimore data layers so you can clearly see the boundary that you drew.

    

    On the map, the sketch displays the boundary of the project area.

    

11. On the Contents toolbar, click Save and open and choose Save to save the map.

In this tutorial, you explored a group layer of data on current economic conditions, health outcomes, and historic practices. You created bookmarks to compare different neighborhoods and added schools and parks data to your map. With all this data on your map, you determined where you want to focus on building more parks and used Sketch tools to draw a custom outline marking the project area.

Note:

To re-create this workflow for your local community, open the Baltimore community asset map, save a new copy, and use the Filter tool on the Settings toolbar to adjust which city, county, or state you want to focus your asset map on.

You can find more tutorials in the tutorial gallery.

Acknowledgements

• All Adobe Stock images are © 2024 Adobe Stock. All rights reserved.
• The Median Household Income - Tracts layer is from ACS Median Household Income Variables - Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey
• Mapping Inequality Redlining Areas: University of Richmond's Digital Scholarship Lab
• The Mental health distress prevalence - Tracts layer is from PLACES: Local Data for Better Health: Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• USA Parks: Esri, TomTom
• Public School Characteristics - Current: National Center for Education Statistics' (NCES) Education Demographic and Geographic Estimate (EDGE) program
• Human Geography Map sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community