Mapping Segregation: MIT’s Atlas of Inequality
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Machine Learning
- Sensors - Lidar & Lazer Scanners
Applicable Industries
- Cities & Municipalities
- Retail
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Smart City Operations
- Smart Lighting
About The Customer
The customer in this case study is the general public, particularly those living in urban areas. The Atlas of Inequality is a tool that can be used by anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of social segregation in cities. It can be particularly useful for urban planners, policymakers, and social scientists who are interested in addressing issues of inequality and segregation. The tool can also be used by businesses to understand the demographics of the areas they operate in and make informed decisions about where to open new locations.
The Challenge
The challenge revolves around understanding the social segregation in cities, particularly in the United States. The traditional understanding of segregation is based on geographical locations, often characterized by the stark contrast between rich and poor areas within close proximity. However, this perspective fails to consider the 'why' behind segregation, focusing solely on the 'where'. The challenge is to challenge this traditional notion of segregation by using high-frequency location data to understand the reasons behind segregation. The data gathered from 11 of the most populated metropolitan areas in the US revealed that on average, around 75% of the people we interact with daily live more than 15 kilometers away. This suggests that to understand segregation, we need to go beyond geographical locations and start considering the reasons behind it.
The Solution
The solution to this challenge was the development of the Atlas of Inequality, an online tool that maps 1.2 million points of interest in cities, such as restaurants, universities, etc. Each point is colored according to the inequality of the place, which is determined by how uneven the distribution of incomes of the people visiting that place is. The Atlas of Inequality provides a more nuanced understanding of segregation, showing that it is not just about where people live, but also about the places they visit and the choices they make. For instance, the type of food people prefer can influence the segregation they experience, with Latin American and fast-food restaurants being the most segregated. The Atlas also revealed that the opening of a single business can impact inequality in an area. For example, the opening of Eataly, a restaurant in the Prudential Center in Boston, decreased the total segregation of the area by 10%.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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