Capstone: Lu

Capstone: Dan Lu

Mapping Resilience: A Spatial Narrative of Change in Strawberry Mansion

This capstone project explores the historical and contemporary landscape of Strawberry Mansion, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, through an interactive digital storytelling format. Using a custom-built Story Map and Web Mapping Application, the project investigates how spatial data can communicate nuanced narratives of neighborhood change, continuity, and community resilience.

The project is structured around two interconnected threads. The main narrative combines census data analysis with the mapping of local historic places to contextualize demographic shifts and physical transformations over time. Charts, written explanations, interactive maps, and images work together to illuminate not just what has changed in the neighborhood but what has endured.

The cover of the Story Map, and the QR code for convenient access on mobile devices (Dan Lu, 2025).
Beneath this visible narrative lies a hidden thread: the integration of data visualization tools through web mapping platforms. These tools allow users to interact with spatial data by toggling map layers, examining attribute tables, and exploring embedded visualizations. The design emphasizes accessibility and engagement, enabling users including community members and researchers to explore the data from multiple angles.

The accompanying Web Mapping Application extends this engagement further. Features such as layer comparison via swipe tools, spatial filtering, measurement tools, and the ability to upload custom data foster an environment for deeper inquiry. For instance, the neighborhood boundary was delineated using ArcGIS’s “Summarize Within” tool, reflecting the project’s commitment to methodological transparency and analytical precision.

Ultimately, this project reframes digital mapping as more than just a tool for representation. It becomes a platform for reflection, exploration, and potential action. By inviting users to interact with both data and place, the project aims to support a more inclusive understanding of Strawberry Mansion’s past, present, and possible futures.
An example of interactive web maps and instant apps embedded within the Story Map (Dan Lu, 2025).

Examples of data analysis generated using the ArcGIS Pro platform (Dan Lu, 2025).

Capstone: Dan Lu

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