Research Directory

Cities like Nashville are getting hotter due to the “urban heat island” effect, where buildings, roads, and other surfaces trap heat and raise temperatures, especially in certain neighborhoods. This project examines which factors make some areas more vulnerable to extreme heat than others. Using data from sources such as the U.S. Census, FEMA, and local energy providers, the study looks at how building density, tree coverage, income levels, and poverty rates relate to heat risk across Nashville neighborhoods. The findings show that heat vulnerability is not evenly distributed. Areas with higher poverty rates and lower incomes tend to face greater heat-related risks, while more densely built and urbanized areas also experience higher temperatures. Interestingly, tree coverage, often seen as a key solution, did not show a strong effect in this study, suggesting that where and how trees are distributed may matter more than how many there are overall. Overall, the results highlight that heat risk is shaped by both the physical environment and social inequalities. Addressing extreme heat in cities like Nashville will require coordinated efforts that combine urban planning, environmental design, and social policy.

Cities like Nashville are getting hotter due to the “urban heat island” effect, where buildings, roads, and other surfaces trap heat and raise temperatures, especially in certain neighborhoods. This project examines which factors make some areas more vulnerable to extreme heat than others. Using data from sources such as the U.S. Census, FEMA, and local energy providers, the study looks at how building density, tree coverage, income levels, and poverty rates relate to heat risk across Nashville neighborhoods. The findings show that heat vulnerability is not evenly distributed. Areas with higher poverty rates and lower incomes tend to face greater heat-related risks, while more densely built and urbanized areas also experience higher temperatures. Interestingly, tree coverage, often seen as a key solution, did not show a strong effect in this study, suggesting that where and how trees are distributed may matter more than how many there are overall. Overall, the results highlight that heat risk is shaped by both the physical environment and social inequalities. Addressing extreme heat in cities like Nashville will require coordinated efforts that combine urban planning, environmental design, and social policy.

Cities like Nashville are getting hotter due to the “urban heat island” effect, where buildings, roads, and other surfaces trap heat and raise temperatures, especially in certain neighborhoods. This project examines which factors make some areas more vulnerable to extreme heat than others. Using data from sources such as the U.S. Census, FEMA, and local energy providers, the study looks at how building density, tree coverage, income levels, and poverty rates relate to heat risk across Nashville neighborhoods. The findings show that heat vulnerability is not evenly distributed. Areas with higher poverty rates and lower incomes tend to face greater heat-related risks, while more densely built and urbanized areas also experience higher temperatures. Interestingly, tree coverage, often seen as a key solution, did not show a strong effect in this study, suggesting that where and how trees are distributed may matter more than how many there are overall. Overall, the results highlight that heat risk is shaped by both the physical environment and social inequalities. Addressing extreme heat in cities like Nashville will require coordinated efforts that combine urban planning, environmental design, and social policy.

Cities like Nashville are getting hotter due to the “urban heat island” effect, where buildings, roads, and other surfaces trap heat and raise temperatures, especially in certain neighborhoods. This project examines which factors make some areas more vulnerable to extreme heat than others. Using data from sources such as the U.S. Census, FEMA, and local energy providers, the study looks at how building density, tree coverage, income levels, and poverty rates relate to heat risk across Nashville neighborhoods. The findings show that heat vulnerability is not evenly distributed. Areas with higher poverty rates and lower incomes tend to face greater heat-related risks, while more densely built and urbanized areas also experience higher temperatures. Interestingly, tree coverage, often seen as a key solution, did not show a strong effect in this study, suggesting that where and how trees are distributed may matter more than how many there are overall. Overall, the results highlight that heat risk is shaped by both the physical environment and social inequalities. Addressing extreme heat in cities like Nashville will require coordinated efforts that combine urban planning, environmental design, and social policy.

Short-term rentals, such as Airbnb properties, have rapidly increased in the Nashville area over the past decade. While they create economic opportunities and support tourism, they may also affect housing affordability and neighborhood safety. This project examines how the growth of short-term rentals is related to changes in housing prices and crime across Nashville’s council districts between 2017 and 2024. Using publicly available data from sources like Zillow and Nashville Open Data, the study analyzes trends in short-term rental permits, housing values, and different types of crime. The findings show that areas with more short-term rentals tend to experience larger increases in crime overall, although the relationship is complex and varies depending on how crime is measured. At the same time, the study finds only a weak relationship between the number of short-term rentals and rising housing prices, suggesting that other factors also play a major role in housing affordability. Overall, the results highlight that short-term rentals are one part of a broader set of changes affecting Nashville’s housing market and neighborhoods. The study emphasizes the need for thoughtful policies that balance economic benefits with community stability and safety.

Obesity is a major and growing health concern in the United States, including in Tennessee. One common idea is that improving neighborhood walkability (i.e., how easy it is to walk to places like stores, parks, and services) can help reduce obesity by encouraging physical activity. This project examines whether that is true in Nashville by looking at how walkability relates to obesity rates across different neighborhoods. Using publicly available data from sources such as the CDC, EPA, and U.S. Census, the study analyzes patterns in obesity alongside factors like food access, healthcare availability, and neighborhood demographics. The goal is to better understand whether walkability alone is enough to improve health outcomes, or if other social and economic factors play a larger role. The findings show that walkability by itself was not a strong predictor of obesity rates in Nashville. Instead, factors such as access to food, healthcare, and broader social conditions were more closely linked to obesity. These results suggest that improving public health requires a broader approach that goes beyond the built environment and addresses underlying inequalities in access to resources.