Welcome to SocialMapper¶
SocialMapper helps you understand how people connect with important places in their community by analyzing travel times and demographics.
What is SocialMapper?¶
SocialMapper is a Python tool that answers questions like: - Who can reach the local library within a 15-minute walk? - What areas are within 20 minutes of the nearest hospital? - How many seniors live within driving distance of grocery stores?
It combines travel time analysis with demographic data to help you understand community accessibility.
Key Features¶
πΊοΈ Find Places¶
Discover libraries, schools, hospitals, parks, and other community resources from OpenStreetMap. Or use the geocoding feature with a street address.
β±οΈ Calculate Travel Times¶
Generate isochrones (travel time areas) for walking, driving, or biking. [Walking and Biking functionality still under development]
π Analyze Demographics¶
Understand who lives within reach of your point of interest using Census data like population, income, and age.
π Use Your Own Locations¶
Analyze accessibility from your organization's facilities or any custom addresses.
Quick Example¶
from socialmapper import run_socialmapper
# Find who can reach libraries in 15 minutes
results = run_socialmapper(
state="North Carolina",
county="Wake County",
place_type="library",
travel_time=15,
census_variables=["total_population", "median_income"]
)
Get Started¶
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Installation
Install SocialMapper in minutes
-
Quick Start
Your first analysis in 5 minutes
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Examples
Learn from practical examples
-
Get Help
Documentation and support
Common Use Cases¶
Urban Planning¶
- Analyze access to public facilities
- Identify underserved areas
- Plan new service locations
Public Health¶
- Map healthcare accessibility
- Study food desert patterns
- Evaluate emergency service coverage
Education¶
- Assess school accessibility
- Plan bus routes
- Identify transportation barriers
Community Development¶
- Evaluate access to parks and recreation
- Study retail accessibility
- Support grant applications with data
Why SocialMapper?¶
- Free and Open Source - No licensing fees or restrictions
- Easy to Use - Simple Python API and command line interface
- Reliable Data - Uses OpenStreetMap and US Census Bureau
- Fast - Optimized caching and efficient algorithms
- Flexible - Analyze any location type at any scale
Ready to explore your community? Get started now β