The Calculus of a City
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The Calculus of a City is a data-driven urban analytics project that investigates the spatial correlation between green space access, socioeconomic indicators, and projected health outcomes across New York City.
Using geospatial datasets from NYC Open Data, we performed multi-layer raster analysis and proximity scoring to identify green space deserts and overlay them with census-derived poverty rates, median income, and service amenity gaps. We then applied regression-based cost modeling to estimate the long-term financial burden of preventable health conditions in high-risk zones, integrating public health research with spatial interpolation. The model supports cost-of-living indexing by borough and neighborhood, tying infrastructural neglect to quantifiable economic and health projections — a framework designed to inform more equitable urban policy and land-use decisions.
Building on these insights, we developed a set of spatial interventions aimed at reconfiguring the urban landscape to address systemic inequities. By modeling alternate city configurations—such as redistributing green infrastructure, optimizing amenity clustering, and adjusting zoning boundaries—we simulated potential reductions in projected healthcare costs and improved livability indices across high-risk neighborhoods. Using network-based spatial optimization and cost-benefit projections, we proposed urban layouts that maximized access while minimizing displacement, prioritizing interventions in areas with the highest correlation between environmental neglect and economic vulnerability. This framework serves as a blueprint for evidence-based city planning, where data informs not just diagnosis but design.
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