Erma Swartz

model · map · sense · argue

I've built tools from the ground up, from a 3D-printed air quality sensor to spatial analyses of NYC's waste system, and used them to model 57M tCO₂e in potential emissions reductions, translating complex urban data into actionable planning insights.

See the work Read about me

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. 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?

Global CO2 emissions change map produced with machine learning

Model

Predict & Simulate

I run random forests and regressions until the city stops being a mystery.

Python · scikit-learn

NYC median income and recycling rates choropleth

Map

Reveal Spatial Patterns

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

GeoPandas · Folium · PySAL

3D-printed lung-shaped ozone sensor, custom-built wearable

Sense

Build, Wear, Measure

I 3D-printed a pair of lungs, wired them to an ozone sensor, and walked around Brooklyn. The data was bleak.

ESP32 · Rhino · Python

Circular economy system diagram for NYC construction

Argue

Research & Persuade

A year-long thesis turning spatial analysis into policy recommendations worth 57M tCO₂e.

Python · statsmodels

Toolkit

What I Work With

Data Science & Modeling

What I reach for when a question needs a quantitative answer.

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

GIS & Spatial Analysis

How I make geographies legible — and arguments out of them.

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

Design & Fabrication

Tools for making research feel inevitable on the page.

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

Research & Communication

The other half of the job — turning analysis into argument.

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

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