Community-engaged research on urban food systems and community resilience

This is community-engaged research on urban food systems and community resilience. We conducted a household survey of urban agriculture in Indianapolis, IN to assess multiple functionalities of urban agriculture and mapped their contribution to addressing food deserts and food insecurity. The research is conducted in partnership with Indy Food Council, a coalition of organizations working on food security and access in Marion County, Indiana, and other local government organizations.

Funding Agency: Service Learning Assistantship, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Picture: JCC Community garden, Indianapolis (Credit: Rick Bien)

Social-ecological inventory and analysis of urban green infrastructure

Urban green infrastructure offers multiple benefits, such as supplementing food security, strengthening social capital, and providing ecosystem services. This project involved mapping and analysis of different forms of urban green infrastructure, including urban agriculture, urban forests and green roofs for the cities of Indianapolis and Bloomington, IN, and creating a web-based platform to share the products. The datasets on biophysical and social aspects of the urban green infrastructure and community resilience are compiled from field surveys, remote sensing, GIS, U.S. Census, and various government and non-government sources. 

Funding Agency: Indiana University