Neely-Streit, Twyla

Chicago Transportation and Soil Health: Analyzing Soil in Irving Park

I became interested in lead contamination after learning about its dangerous health effects. I have family living in the Irving Park community area and I wanted to understand more about the lead in their area to help keep them and their community safe. I’m also incredibly interested in creating consumer friendly data visualizations. GIS and data mapping provide an excellent way to share information with a diverse group of people! In my spare time I enjoy making miniature models of agricultural machinery.

Major: Environmental Science

Minor: Applied Psychology

GIS Certificate

Senior, College of Science and Health

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Abstract

To better understand the soil health and current magnitude of lead’s presence within an urban residential area, I collected soil samples throughout the Irving Park community area and analyzed levels of total lead, SRP (soluble reactive phosphorus), pH, and bioavailable lead within these samples. I hypothesize that soil lead concentrations in Irving Park will be higher in samples taken near the expressway and train lines that run through the community area. Data from the proposed sample points will be statistically analyzed with R and spatially analyzed with ArcGIS to create a graduated color map of any possible correlations. Conclusions cannot be made yet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thesis Director: Dr. James Montgomery

Department: Environmental Science and Studies

Faculty Reader: David Jabon

Department: STEM Studies and Mathematical Sciences

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Poster

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Voicethread Presentation