Projects

The links below provide descriptions of projects that highlight CUR's breadth of clients and activities. The profiles emphasize our strong and ongoing relationships with public agencies, nonprofits, foundations, private companies, and others.

New York from the 1940s to now

The 1943 "New York City Market Analysis" available through the CUNY Graduate Center provides hundreds of photos and maps to illustrate what life was like in New York 70 years ago. In addition to our "Welcome to 1940s New York" website, we provide here an analysis and comparison of key indicators of socio-economic change from 1940 to 2010.

The End of Segregation? Hardly.

The Manhattan Institute's report on "The End of the Segregated Century" makes bold claims about the decline of African-American segregation in America. The Center for Urban Research examines the report's claims for the largest metro area in the country: New York. Through our review and comprehensive mapping of the region, we find a more nuanced story, in which the end of the era of segregation is not at hand.

Helping New Yorkers Get Counted in the 2010 Census

Several New York foundations provided funding to dozens of community groups in 2010 to help get the word out about the importance of being counted in the 2010 Census. The Center for Urban Research created an interactive map for the NY Community Trust, highlighting where these groups focused their efforts.

Demographic change in Metropolitan America: 2000 to 2010

Between 2010 and 2012, the US Census Bureau will have publicly released a vast amount of data reflecting the results of the 2010 decennial census as well as the separate but related American Community Survey. The Center for Urban Research is immersed in these Census data with the goals of accessing and distributing, visualizing, customizing, and analyzing it statistically in order to help others understand how to use it in their work. This page summarizes some of our efforts.

The Future of Low Wage Work in Metropolitan America

On October 10-11, 2008, the Center for Urban Research hosted a conference to present the findings from research focused on "The Future of Low Wage Work in Metropolitan America". Academics, policymakers, and practitioners discussed our findings and shared their perspectives on the changing labor market and how to address the problems affecting low wage workers.

Second Generation Immigrants

This decade-long study examines the educational attainment, labor market experiences, family formation, values, attitudes, and civic and social incorporation among the young adult children of post-1965 immigrants who grew up in the New York metropolitan area and compares them to peers from native born backgrounds.

Long Island Index 2008

Since 2004 the Long Island Index has provided invaluable data on trends and comparison statistics about this suburban region's population, economy, housing stock, environment, and more. The CUNY Mapping Service at CUR participates in the Index's Technical Committee to provide maps, spatial analysis, and advice regarding key data sets. This case study highlights our work on the 2008 Index report.

Handheld mapping and data capture with NYC Dept of Finance

In 2005, CUR partnered with NYC Department of Finance the to evaluate the effectiveness of handheld devices enhanced with GIS maps to improve the efficiency and accuracy of data collection for property valuation and tax assessment purposes. The pilot project was completed in Fall 2007, and the Department is now evaluating an agency-wide expansion of the project.

"Putting Data to Work" with the NY Immigration Coalition

The Center for Urban Research is collaborating with the NY Immigration Coalition on a project funded by the NY Community Trust to collect, analyze, and disseminate demographic and socioeconomic data to assist local immigrant-serving organizations. CUR and the Coalition will also be training these groups in how best to integrate this data into local organizing and advocacy efforts.

Willets Point land use study

A joint project in 2006 between CUR and Hunter College's Center for Community Planning and Development to survey and map land use patterns and businesses in the Willets Point area of Queens.

Computer Crime Mapping

During the 1990s, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) dramatically increased and improved its use of computer mapping, and made computerized maps a central feature of its innovative management process known as CompStat. To explore ways to add more analytical capacity to the NYPD’s crime mapping capibilities, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) hired CUR and CAPSE to identify and evaluate methods for measuring and analyzing crime patterns and trends using GIS.