Extreme Heat in Montana
The problem
Develop an interactive ArcGIS Storymap to communicate the impacts of extreme heat on Montana and showcase strategies for individual and collective resilience.
ResilienceMT, a a NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-funded statewide climate resilience and science literacy project run by Profs Beth Covitt and Robin Saha at the University of Montana, wanted to create a Storymap focused on extreme heat to go along with the other tactics in the project like classroom curricula and in-person interactive exhibits.
How is extreme heat impacting Montanans right now? As our world continues to warm, what will the future of heat look like in the Treasure State?
And what can we as individuals and communities do to lessen any of these impacts, especially for those most vulnerable to heat-related hazards?
Approach
I used the Storymaps platform to accomplish this project because of its strong ability to weave together geographic information with various other media like images, videos, audio, and data visualizations into an engaging multimedia story that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Skills
This project required a number of interconnected skills across writing, editing, interviewing, graphic design, GIS analysis, data analysis, and data storytelling. I worked autonomously as a self-directed independent contractor.
Research: Conducted extensive self-directed research into extreme heat impacts and examples of community resilience in Montana and elsewhere.
Branding/design: set the overall design aesthetic for the Storymap and created over 30 custom charts and graphics to create an aligned, professional look and feel.
Writing/editing: working with Drs. Robin Saha and Beth Covitt, I wrote and edited all of the written content.
GIS: created six custom maps that feature a variety of data layers and interactive popups that contribute to the overall story.
Storytelling: interviewed Montanans affected by extreme heat to bring in their compelling personal stories.
Data Analysis & Visualization: conducted multiple analyses in R of global and Montana-specific extreme heat impacts. Visualized these analyses in a variety of charts within the Storymap.
Tools & platforms
R Studio
ArcGIS (Pro, Online, & Storymaps)
Canva
Flourish
Examples / project teasers
Results
TBD as the project continues to be showcased across Montana. In the coming weeks I’ll be updating this page with metrics and reactions as they come in.
