NCRS - The Changing Midwest Assessment

In addition to documenting changes in seasonal housing, scientists at the North Central Research Station and collaborating universities are working to identify the ecological, economic, and social forces that drive landscape change. For example, we have identified ecological characteristics that serve as significant drivers of landscape change, and are using this information to develop and test models to predict how ecological conditions affect the direction and magnitude of change in housing density and population density across the seven states of the Region. Finally, we are developing a set of interactive, web-based tools that will allow users to visualize the spatial distribution of changes that are likely in the future given a range of alternative ecological, economic, and social scenarios.

While it is understandable that most of the public has focused on the communities within the Region that are experiencing huge increases in housing density, it is important that we not overlook the communities where housing density is decreasing. And, in fact, research that looks at both ends of the spectrum is currently underway at the North Central Research Station. Specifically, we are investigating peoples attitudes about urban sprawl (see the "Attitudes About Urban Sprawl" link on The Changing Midwest Home Page), and we are working to identify the economic, social, and ecological conditions that are "driving" landscape change.

Finally, we are developing a set of interactive, web-based tools that will allow users to visualize the spatial distribution of changes that are likely in the future given a range of alternative economic, social, and ecological scenarios.