We create custom web applications and mapping tools that put powerful analysis capabilities directly into community hands, enabling data-driven decision-making at the local level.
When off-the-shelf tools aren’t enough, we build custom ones. We design and develop web applications and mapping tools tailored to the specific needs of our partners.
We work with JavaScript frameworks, a range of data visualization libraries, and popular mapping platforms including ESRI’s ArcGIS Maps SDK, OpenLayers, MapLibre, and others. We build with accessibility in mind and test across devices and browsers, so the tools we create work for everyone — whether they’re on a desktop in an office or a phone in the field.
Projects
Examples of Custom Apps:
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Putting a Data Dashboard to Work for Greenville’s Transit System
Greenville County’s transit system provides 750,000 rides a year—workers, students, and residents who depend on it to reach jobs, healthcare, and opportunity. A custom dashboard built by the Shi Institute is giving advocates the data and tools they need to make the case for a stronger, more connected county.
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Protecting Spartanburg’s Northside Neighborhood from Displacement
Rising property values in Spartanburg’s Northside neighborhood bring both opportunities and risks. Our research reveals how strategic interventions can preserve community stability while residents benefit from increased equity.
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Preserving the Farms That Define Our Communities
South Carolina stands to lose 586,000 acres of farmland by 2036. That’s 67 acres disappearing every single day. Shi’s mapping tools can help change this trajectory.
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What Does “Affordable” Actually Mean? A Data-Driven Approach.
Cities debate housing supply a lot. But the data suggest the deeper problem is wages. When most Black households earn far below the area median, a supply-side solution is unlikely to close the gap. Our interactive tool makes that visible.