Rat Watch
Using data and design to document and address neighborhood issues.
In 2017, an Atlanta resident approached us concerned about rats in her neighborhood — there were rats dead and alive, always around, and no one seemed to be doing much about them. Inspired by a project from the University of Michigan called Rat Chat, we began developing the Rat Watch project in Atlanta. The Rat Watch project combines resident-reported data with mapping and modeling to document rat issues in Atlanta. The project includes: an SMS system for text or image based reporting of rat sightings and evidence, a model of likely rat infestations in Atlanta based upon code violation and housing data, and a series of maps representing both the resident reports and rat suitability models. The project's goal is to use data and media to support residents in creating evidence of rat infestations, which can be taken to local government to advocate for resources.
The software and modeling for Rat Watch project was developed in 2018 as part of the Civic Data Science Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
In 2019, we collaborated with neighborhood residents to design a workshop that brought together residents, activists, representatives from the city council, county health workers, and local philanthropy to consider how they might work together to address rat infestations. This workshop leveraged the data collected the year prior and used a game-like structure to prompt collaborative approaches to service development.
2017-2019
Concept and Research: Amanda Meng, Ellen Zegura, and Carl DiSalvo
Model of Rat Infestations: Winnie Lu (visualization pictured above)
Rat Watch SMS System: Michael Koohang
Rat Watch Participatory Workshop: Vikram Kumar