What were the primary goals of the tools built?

• Analyze impact of the tree plantings that Green Crew coordinates.
• Increase communication between Green Crew and residents, with a goal of increasing the number of trees that are watered sufficiently.
• Calculate shade canopy to help visualize benefits of shade

What tools were used in this process?

• Google ApsScript - programming language for adding custom functionality to Google Sheet and Google Docs
• Twilio, an online service for automating SMS (texting) interactions through code

How do they work?

• Calculating benefits: Google ApsScript is used to query iTree - gathering information about the long-term benefits of multiple trees at one time
• Contacting residents: Google ApsScript is used to read the contact information of residents from a Google Sheet, and then to send emails (through Google) or texts (through Twilio) to each resident according to their preferences.
• Calculating shade benefits: Google AppsScript is used to query iTree to gather shade canopy information, which is then embedded in a Google Maps interactive map for inclusion in the Green Crew's website.

What were you hoping to achieve by partnering with Green Crew?

My goal with summer projects for rising sophomores is to provide them with an opportunity to:

1. See how the things they're learning in the classroom are applicable in the real world
2. Develop their identities as computer scientists by seeing how much specialized knowledge they've acquired in just one year
3. Show students how much can be accomplished when they bring those skills into a collaboration with domain experts who have different specializations than their own

An added bonus of this project was that students got a chance to interact with the community directly through the 4th of July celebration, which gave them a great chance to practice explaining the goals of their work to members of the general public.

Thank you Professor Medero for this opportunity!