Joe Occhipinti - Project Management

GIS Analysis on Hydrologic Fracturing & Community Health Factors

Problem Statement
Investigate how the proximity of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) sites impacts local water quality and public health indicators. The main goal was to determine potential correlations between fracking operations and community health outcomes.

Data

Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for fracking site coordinates, U.S. Census Bureau for demographic and health-related statistics.
Cleaning/Preprocessing:
- Standardized coordinate systems and shapefiles in ArcGIS.
- Merged demographic tables with location data using county-level FIPS codes.
- Filtered out incomplete or anomalous records (e.g., missing health data, inconsistent location attributes).

Tools & Techniques

Software: ArcGIS Pro, Python (pandas, NumPy), SQL
Methods: Geospatial buffering and overlay, proximity analysis, correlation testing between fracking site density and reported health issues.

Approach

Data Collection & Integration: Gathered well location data and census-based health metrics.
Spatial Analysis: Mapped well sites, created buffer zones (e.g., 1-mile, 3-mile radii), and overlaid them with community health statistics.
Statistical Assessment: Calculated correlation coefficients to see if increased fracking activity aligned with variations in reported respiratory problems or water contamination.
Visualization: Generated heat maps to illustrate high-risk clusters near densely populated areas.

Insights & Results

Identified a moderate but notable correlation between higher well densities and certain health issues in clusters of rural communities.
Highlighted areas where water testing results showed elevated contaminant levels within specific buffer zones.
Delivered clear GIS visuals that enabled local stakeholders to grasp the geographic distribution of potential risks.

Takeaways

Recommended more frequent water quality monitoring in zones within a certain distance of active fracking sites.
Provided evidence-based insights to county officials, aiding in policy discussions about environmental regulations and community health initiatives.

USDA Grant Evaluation for a Restorative Agriculture Certificate

Problem Statement
Assess the effectiveness of a USDA-funded certificate program in restorative agriculture by evaluating participant engagement, community outreach, and overall program performance. The objective was to understand how well the program served local agricultural communities and where improvements could be made.

Data

Sources: USDA grant application data, enrollment figures, participant demographics, completion rates from the certificate program’s internal records.
Cleaning/Preprocessing:
- Removed duplicate participant entries and standardized name/address formats.
- Cross-referenced participant data with relevant USDA guidelines for eligibility.

Tools & Techniques

Software: ArcGIS, Python, SQL
Methods: Spatial analysis for farm locations, demographic segmentation, data wrangling for enrollment trends.

Approach

Data Consolidation: Collected enrollment spreadsheets, participant surveys, and farmland parcels from county records.
Demographic & Spatial Mapping: Mapped participant distribution across multiple counties to identify underserved regions.
Program Impact Analysis: Analyzed enrollment trends, completion rates, and participants’ self-reported improvements in agricultural yields or practices.
Reporting & Visualization: Created charts and geospatial heat maps illustrating which communities benefited the most from the program.

Insights & Results

Pinpointed communities that showed the highest enrollment and completion rates, correlating with measurable improvements in sustainable farming practices.
Identified gaps in outreach, particularly in areas with limited internet access or fewer local program ambassadors.
Demonstrated a moderate rise in local produce output among participating farms.

Takeaways

Recommended targeted marketing strategies for less-reached rural communities, including in-person workshops and expanded online course modules.
Provided USDA stakeholders with concrete data to justify future funding allocations and enhancements to the certificate curriculum.

Marcellus Shale Production Study

Problem Statement
Analyze the spatial distribution and production volumes of Marcellus Shale drilling activities to gain insights into operational efficiency, environmental impacts, and economic benefits for local communities.

Data

Sources: Well production data from state databases, shapefiles showing drilling permit boundaries, local census data for economic indicators.
Cleaning/Preprocessing:
- Aligned varying datasets by well ID and county boundaries.
- Filtered out incomplete drilling records or inconsistent production logs.

Tools & Techniques

Software: ArcGIS, Python (pandas for data manipulation), Excel for quick data checks
Methods: Spatial joins, time-series analysis of production outputs, cross-referencing economic data with well site density.

Approach

Data Aggregation: Imported well production reports and matched them with corresponding geographic permits in ArcGIS.
Time-Series Analysis: Used Python to track production volume changes over 6–12 months.
Economic Correlation: Merged local census data to evaluate whether higher shale production corresponded with increased job growth or household incomes.
Mapping & Visualization: Created color-coded maps to illustrate high-production clusters alongside relevant socioeconomic indicators.

Insights & Results

Revealed significant production clusters in counties with well-established drilling infrastructure.
Found a modest correlation between increased shale production and local economic metrics (e.g., slight uptick in median household income).
Identified potential environmental risk factors in regions with higher well density, prompting further study of local water resources.

Takeaways

Provided a framework for ongoing monitoring of how shale production intersects with economic development and environmental stewardship.
Offered actionable insights to local policymakers, suggesting balanced drilling oversight and community engagement programs to address ecological concerns.

How to Use These Case Studies

Format on Your Site: Dedicate a page or section for each project with headings (Problem Statement, Data, Tools & Techniques, Approach, Insights & Results, and Takeaways).
Include Visuals: Embed relevant charts, maps, or data snapshots to illustrate your findings.
Link Supporting Files: If applicable, link out to GitHub repositories, ArcGIS Online dashboards, or PDF reports for deeper technical details.

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