Commuting in 2000

The Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (MIDAS) is a collaboration of research and informatics groups, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Its goal is to develop computational models of the interactions between infectious agents and their hosts, the spread of disease, prediction systems, and response strategies. MIDAS models are useful not only to other scientists but also to decision and policy makers.

As part of the informatics group, the RTI GIS program provides geographic data and has built a comprehensive geodatabase so that MIDAS researchers can take advantage of a wide variety of geographic data in constructing their models.

The maps were designed in a manner that allows users to visualize as elevations the counts of commuters arriving at Census Tracts of Work. A hillshade was created with the output from the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Topo to Raster interpolation tool layered on top with transparency. The hillshade and commuting “elevation” rasters clipped to a detailed outline of the United States and shading to mimic terrain maps created an effective surface map that allows the user to quickly identify areas and patterns of high to low movement of commuters. Sixteen urban area insets are included on the original map with Alaska, Hawaii, and the lower 48 states. The map symbolizes state boundaries, urban areas, interstates, and major highways. Small, medium, and large cities and suburbs are also labeled. The Places Gaining People vs. Losing People map shows net change levels of inbound versus outbound commuters by census tract. Areas losing—rather than gaining—net daily commuters are symbolized as light to dark blue “below sea level” depths. U.S. commuting data is based on Census Spatial Tabulation: Census Tract of Work by Census Tract of Residence (STP64).

Courtesy of RTI International.