Abstract
 Mapping Migrant Deaths in Southern Arizona: The Humane Borders GIS Track: Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Affairs Author(s): John Chamblee, Daniel Deborde, Mark Townley, Gary Christopherson, Robin Hoover Thousands of migrants die annually crossing the desert into the United States. Humane Borders is a Tucson, Arizona, nonprofit agency that provides migrants with strategically placed drinking water stations. We also work for immigration reform. Through cooperation with the U.S. Border Patrol and local medical examiners, we produce maps showing the locations where migrants died. After Esri donated ArcView 9.1, we launched an ambitious GIS program. Using personal geodatabases, we first created better maps showing migrant death. We then built Spanish-language warning posters that deter entry into the United States and warn migrants to stay away from the deadliest parts of the desert. Recently we developed viewshed models of cellular phone service illustrating how better coverage would save lives by allowing migrants to call for government rescue. This paper demonstrates how GIS furthers our efforts to, in the words of Humane Borders' President, Rev. Robin Hoover, "take death out of the immigration equation." John Chamblee University of Arizona Department of Anthropoology Emil W. Haury Building 1009 E. South Campus Drive Tucson , AZ 85721 US Phone: 520-621-6181 E-mail: chamblee@email.arizona.edu Daniel Deborde City of Tucson Environmental Services City of Tucson Environmental Services 100 North Stone, 2nd Floor Tucson , AZ 85710 US Phone: 520-791-5414 E-mail: Daniel.Deborde@tucsonaz.gov Mark Townley Intuit Contact Center Solutions 2800 E Commerce Ctr Pl Tucson , AZ 85710 US Phone: 520-901-2707 E-mail: Mark_Townley@Intuit.com Gary Christopherson University of Arizona Center for Applied Spatial Analysis Harvill 460 -- Box 3 University of Arizona Tucson , AZ 85721 US Phone: 520-621-6267 E-mail: garych@casa.arizona.edu Robin Hoover Humane Borders First Christian Church 740 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson , AZ 85719 US Phone: (520) 628-7753 E-mail: rhoover@gainusa.com |
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