Erma Swartz I model. map. sense. argue. model.

Urban planner, data scientist, and designer building a more equitable and sustainable world — one dataset, one map, and one prototype at a time.

Model Map Sense Argue

Who I Am

I care about cities because I care about people — and the systems we build shape who gets to thrive in them.

I work where data meets design and policy meets place. Over the past two years, I've built predictive models for transit equity, mapped urban waste systems, 3D-printed a wearable air quality sensor, and written a thesis on circular economy in construction — all in Python, all grounded in spatial evidence, all aimed at making cities more just.

What I Do

Four Ways of Working

Each practice is a lens on the same question: how do we build cities that are just, resilient, and alive?

CO2 emissions change map produced with machine learning

Model

Predict & Simulate

Random forests, regressions, and scenario simulations — translating complexity into forecasts that inform real decisions.

Python · scikit-learn

NYC median income and recycling rates map

Map

Reveal Spatial Patterns

GIS analysis, interactive choropleths, and scrollytelling — making invisible geographies legible and actionable.

GeoPandas · Folium · PySAL

3D-printed lung sensor housing — custom-built environmental sensor

Sense

Build, Wear, Measure

I designed, 3D-printed, and wore a lung-shaped ozone sensor to measure what the city does to your body. Then I modeled the data.

ESP32 · Rhino · Python

Argue

Research & Persuade

A year-long thesis on circular economy in NYC construction — turning spatial analysis into policy recommendations worth 57M tCO₂e.

Python · statsmodels

Toolkit

What I Work With

Data Science & Modeling

Python (pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn)
Machine Learning (Random Forest, XGBoost)
Econometrics (OLS, statsmodels)
Scenario & Optimization Modeling
Jupyter Notebooks

GIS & Spatial Analysis

ArcGIS Pro
GeoPandas & PySAL
Folium & Plotly (interactive maps)
Spatial Statistics (Moran's I, LISA)
Cartographic Composition

Design & Fabrication

Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
Rhino 3D & 3D Printing
Data Visualization
Sensor Prototyping (ESP32)

Research & Communication

Policy Analysis & Writing
Qualitative Interviews
HTML / CSS / JavaScript
Git & GitHub
Environmental Sensing

Get in Touch

Let's Talk

I'm looking for opportunities in urban planning, data science, sustainability consulting, and design. If my work resonates, I'd love to hear from you.

Email Me Download Resume