Writing a Data Narrative

Sowmithra M -

Hi everyone! Last week, I met with Sara, a PhD student, and she taught me a lot about using ggplot in RStudio and other general things about the program. Afterwards, I had my meeting with Dr. Garcia and discussed my final project with her. I realized a major barrier for me would be time. I will, unfortunately, not be able to do an extensive triple exposure theory analysis on all 3 cities. Dr. Garcia informed me that the analysis requires a lot of time, a big team working on different things, and referencing things with local utility management. Our solution to this issue was to briefly discuss triple exposure theory analysis and acknowledge my limitations in the final paper. I will still be able to provide a general triple exposure theory analysis for all 3 cities. 

Moving on to my work this week, I have finished a first draft of the Phoenix data narrative. After Dr. Garcia gives me feedback on that draft, I will make the edits to the Phoenix data narrative and begin working on the Miami and Detroit data narratives. As mentioned last week, I will now explain the format of my data narratives. The basic definition of a data narrative is a type of writing that combines qualitative and quantitative information. In the case of my project, the qualitative information comes from interviews, recorded meetings, and the timeline of events. The quantitative information comes from water demand, water rates, and water production. As for the writing itself, there will be an introduction and sections for 10 year periods. The introduction will cover primary and secondary actors (decision makers and influencers), a basic description of the utility, the city’s main water sources, and the city’s general water contexts. The 10 year sections will indicate whether there was a transition or not, primary concerns and the actions taken in response, water supply threats that were faced and the effect on the utility and water delivery, water rates, and per capita water production/demand trends. I am working hard on getting all of this together and hope to have it done in the coming weeks. Thanks for reading!

 

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    camillebennett
    Sowmithra, sounds like you found a good solution to your time limitations. What would the triple exposure theory analysis have possibly revealed in your research?
    sowmithra_m
    Thank you Ms. Bennett! The analysis would have given me much more concrete evidence as to what causes transitions in a period called "accelerated change." Now, my project still focuses on transition but it is a much more comprehensive overview, rather than proven hypotheses.
    Lili :)
    Hi Sowmithra! How are you able to determine whether or not there was a transition in the 10 year period? What information is being looked at?
    sowmithra_m
    Hi Lili! A transition is defined as when a city makes significant and durable changes to the existing management regime that increase water system sustainability. Examples of increased water system sustainability are lower per capita water use, source diversification, and restructured planning processes that address further water infrastructure challenges and new climate adaptation strategies, such as higher levels of demand and decreased flow of water.

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