Bivariate representation of population density using public and private drinking and wastewater infrastructure

Georgianna Strode,Victor Mesev

doi:10.5194/ica-proc-4-103-2021

Abstract

Abstract. Drinking and wastewater infrastructure consists of both public and private usage. On each property parcel, drinking water can be privately provided by a well or publicly provided through a municipality. Wastewater can be a private septic tank or a public sewer. Property parcels can use all private, all public, or a combination of public and private solutions. It is important for planners and city officials to have knowledge of these systems, and it is also important to know the number of people using each type of infrastructure to prioritize resources and plan for future expansions. Visualizing the complexity of these data using separate univariate maps is aesthetically inferior involving back and forth comparisons. Further, the univariate maps represent land parcels only and do not capture the population that is using each type of water infrastructure. Our research develops a single bivariate map that facilitates the visualization of population using both public and private drinking and wastewater solutions simultaneously. The bivariate map is tended for use by planners, city officials, environmentalists, and others interested in the visualization of the spatial patterns of water infrastructure within one complete map.

Highlights

1.1 The Visualization ChallengeAs a public health concern, it is important for officials to have accurate information on the spatial locations of public and private infrastructure on water systems, as well as estimates on the number of people using them
Public infrastructure costs of drinking water and using sewers can be affected by spatial growth and development patterns (Spier and Stephenson, 2002)
“if we extend this sewer line, how many people can we include?” After a disaster, first responders may ask, “how many people in this area use well water?” The answers may not be apparent using common univariate mapping techniques because they do not typically contain information on population counts

Summary

The Visualization Challenge

As a public health concern, it is important for officials to have accurate information on the spatial locations of public and private infrastructure on water systems, as well as estimates on the number of people using them. 1.3 Data Investigation In Florida, the Department of Health provides a centralized geographic information system (GIS) dataset that links each built land property parcel in the state with a drinking water source (public water or private well) as well as wastewater treatment methods (central sewer or onsite private septic system) (FLWMI). This dataset is the basis for our bivariate map. It is not possible to measure the number of people using each type of infrastructure

Data and Methods

Demonstration

Conclusion