The Better Evidence Project (BEP) connects the most useful evidence developed by scholars and practitioners with other practitioners, policymakers, donors, and scholars who seek evidence-based insights to guide their work. BEP works to address gaps in the knowledge base in the field of conflict resolution and makes available existing evidence to those working to prevent war.

Interactive map of organized crime in South America for research and awareness purposes. Filter by type, location, date, name, and other attributes. The team was continuing the project from the past spring and fall semesters, so the map & dataset already existed. Remaining work was mostly cleanup with small feature additions. The project introduced several significant updates to enhance functionality and user experience such as new filter types, display methods, time based visualizations, and local caching for improved performance.
The map now features a more modern design with updated colors and icons, making it visually appealing and user-friendly. The addition of clustering for map points helps reduce clutter, while the timeline feature allows users to visualize changes over time. Overall, these improvements aim to provide a more efficient and engaging experience for users exploring organized crime data in South America.

The GIS for Peace initiative, supported by DSSD in collaboration with Esri's Humanitarian Solutions Team and the Alliance for Peacebuilding, aims to enhance the collection of open-source spatial data, GIS tools, and case studies to promote global peacebuilding. The platform, built using ArcGIS Hub and Experience Builder, currently relies on manual uploads via Survey123. To address this limitation, the team is developing a web scraping tool to automate the discovery and extraction of GIS resources from online databases.

The project began with identifying relevant websites aligned with the platform's categories: Open Data, Tools and Applications, and Case Studies. These URLs were compiled into an Excel file and converted into a structured JSON format for the scraper tool. The first functional scraper was successfully deployed for Data.gov, extracting titles, descriptions, categories, and download links of spatial datasets relevant to peacebuilding.

The SRLC-USA project highlights the impactful work of SRLC volunteers across the United States through an interactive map and detailed background information on four key states or regions with notable initiatives. The platform includes a mobile-friendly layout, graphs to visualize key statistics from SRLC events, and donate buttons that direct users to SRLC USA’s website. These features aim to provide users with a comprehensive understanding of SRLC's efforts and achievements. The project showcases the scale of SRLC’s impact by illustrating where and how it has touched lives across the country. The stack used includes Python for data cleaning and formatting, ArcGIS Pro for creating interactive map layers, ArcGIS Online for StoryMap development and symbology, and Tableau for generating insightful graphs.

In this video, the team provides an update on DSSD's collaboration with Nonviolent Peace Force to create a centralized hub for resources aimed at supporting peaceful protests and conflict resolution. The team has made significant progress on the project, including a web mockup and a basic structure using React and JavaScript. While there are still some stylistic changes and an unfinished map, the team has laid a solid foundation.

The PaRD Web Database project, undertaken by the GW-DSSD software engineering team, aimed to create a web-based platform showcasing climate and environment-related projects by faith-based organizations. The platform highlights Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 13, 14, and 15, serving as both a showcase for global environmental initiatives and a networking tool for organizations with aligned missions. The project focused on building a user-friendly, visually inclusive, and privacy-compliant interface with features like advanced search filters, interactive maps, and an admin portal for streamlined data management.

The development process was divided into planning, design, and implementation phases. The team utilized a modern stack, including Supabase for backend services, Next.js + React for the frontend, and Vercel for deployment. Wireframes and UI/UX mockups were created using Figma, emphasizing accessibility and intuitive navigation. The admin portal was built to enable secure and efficient content management. The implementation phase involved designing a flexible PostgreSQL schema, integrating Supabase APIs, and building responsive React components. The platform was successfully deployed, ensuring scalability, modularity, and real-time capabilities for PaRD's mission.

The LEAP Dashboard Vis a web-based application that provides an interactive map and data visualization of energy efficiency projects in Virginia. It is designed to help users understand the impact of energy efficiency initiatives on households and communities across the state.

The dashboard is developed in collaboration with the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) and showcases real-time data on energy efficiency projects. Users can toggle between statewide totals and household averages, allowing them to explore the data in a way that best suits their needs. The interactive map enables users to see LEAP's impact in Virginia, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of energy efficiency programs.