On Empirical Validation of Compactness Measures for Electoral Redistricting and Its Significance for Application of Models in the Social Sciences

Use of optimization models in science and policy applications is often problematic because the best available models are very inaccurate representations of the originating problems. Such is the case with electoral districting models, for which there exist no generally accepted measures of compactness, in spite of many proposals and much analytical study. This article reports on an experimental investigation of subjective judgments of compactness for electoral districts. The experiment draws on a unique database of 116 distinct, legally valid districting plans for the Philadelphia City Council, discovered with evolutionary computation. Subjects in the experiment displayed, in the aggregate, remarkable agreement with several standard measures of compactness, thus providing warrant for use of these measures that has heretofore been unavailable. The exercise also lends support to the underlying methodology on display here, which proposes to use models based on subjective judgments in combination with algorithms that find multiple solutions in order to support application of optimization models in contexts in which they are only very approximate representations

On Empirical Validation of Compactness Measures for Electoral Redistricting and Its Significance for Application of Models in the Social Sciences

Use of optimization models in science and policy applications is often problematic because the best available models are very inaccurate representations of the originating problems. Such is the case with electoral districting models, for which there exist no generally accepted measures of compactness, in spite of many proposals and much analytical study. This article reports on an experimental investigation of subjective judgments of compactness for electoral districts. The experiment draws on a unique database of 116 distinct, legally valid districting plans for the Philadelphia City Council, discovered with evolutionary computation. Subjects in the experiment displayed, in the aggregate, remarkable agreement with several standard measures of compactness, thus providing warrant for use of these measures that has heretofore been unavailable. The exercise also lends support to the underlying methodology on display here, which proposes to use models based on subjective judgments in combination with algorithms that find multiple solutions in order to support application of optimization models in contexts in which they are only very approximate representations. </jats:p

Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois (Semester Unknown) IPRO 339: Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico IPRO 339 Poster Su08

Currently there are several countries throughout the world that have a large need for affordable housing. Our IPRO is currently dealing with solutions for Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois. These two places are very different in climate, culture, as well as economy. Our IPRO this semester will focus on applying the prototype from last semester to these two regions, while making adjustments as needed. We will continue the research into systems which will be advantageous to each situation and develop them accordingly. Once we get a better understanding as to how we can apply our prototype to these situations we will be better able to apply the prototype to various other countries throughout the world.Deliverable

Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois (Semester Unknown) IPRO 339: Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico IPRO 339 Brochure2 Su08

Currently there are several countries throughout the world that have a large need for affordable housing. Our IPRO is currently dealing with solutions for Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois. These two places are very different in climate, culture, as well as economy. Our IPRO this semester will focus on applying the prototype from last semester to these two regions, while making adjustments as needed. We will continue the research into systems which will be advantageous to each situation and develop them accordingly. Once we get a better understanding as to how we can apply our prototype to these situations we will be better able to apply the prototype to various other countries throughout the world.Deliverable

Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois (Semester Unknown) IPRO 339

Currently there are several countries throughout the world that have a large need for affordable housing. Our IPRO is currently dealing with solutions for Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois. These two places are very different in climate, culture, as well as economy. Our IPRO this semester will focus on applying the prototype from last semester to these two regions, while making adjustments as needed. We will continue the research into systems which will be advantageous to each situation and develop them accordingly. Once we get a better understanding as to how we can apply our prototype to these situations we will be better able to apply the prototype to various other countries throughout the world.Deliverable

Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois (Semester Unknown) IPRO 339: Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico IPRO 339 Abstract Su08

Currently there are several countries throughout the world that have a large need for affordable housing. Our IPRO is currently dealing with solutions for Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois. These two places are very different in climate, culture, as well as economy. Our IPRO this semester will focus on applying the prototype from last semester to these two regions, while making adjustments as needed. We will continue the research into systems which will be advantageous to each situation and develop them accordingly. Once we get a better understanding as to how we can apply our prototype to these situations we will be better able to apply the prototype to various other countries throughout the world.Deliverable

Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois (Semester Unknown) IPRO 339: Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico IPRO 339 MidTerm Presentation Su08

Currently there are several countries throughout the world that have a large need for affordable housing. Our IPRO is currently dealing with solutions for Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois. These two places are very different in climate, culture, as well as economy. Our IPRO this semester will focus on applying the prototype from last semester to these two regions, while making adjustments as needed. We will continue the research into systems which will be advantageous to each situation and develop them accordingly. Once we get a better understanding as to how we can apply our prototype to these situations we will be better able to apply the prototype to various other countries throughout the world.Deliverable

Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois (Semester Unknown) IPRO 339: Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico IPRO 339 Project Plan Su08

Currently there are several countries throughout the world that have a large need for affordable housing. Our IPRO is currently dealing with solutions for Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois. These two places are very different in climate, culture, as well as economy. Our IPRO this semester will focus on applying the prototype from last semester to these two regions, while making adjustments as needed. We will continue the research into systems which will be advantageous to each situation and develop them accordingly. Once we get a better understanding as to how we can apply our prototype to these situations we will be better able to apply the prototype to various other countries throughout the world.Deliverable

Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois (Semester Unknown) IPRO 339: Designing Affordable Housing out of Shipping Containers for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico IPRO 339 Poster2Su08

Currently there are several countries throughout the world that have a large need for affordable housing. Our IPRO is currently dealing with solutions for Juarez, Mexico and Chicago, Illinois. These two places are very different in climate, culture, as well as economy. Our IPRO this semester will focus on applying the prototype from last semester to these two regions, while making adjustments as needed. We will continue the research into systems which will be advantageous to each situation and develop them accordingly. Once we get a better understanding as to how we can apply our prototype to these situations we will be better able to apply the prototype to various other countries throughout the world.Deliverable