What We’re Working On

Collaborative Research for Community-Led Solutions

At GeoCommunities, we support research-driven, community-led projects that respond to local sustainability challenges and create solutions with potential for global relevance. These initiatives bring together researchers, community leaders, and policymakers to generate practical, place-based knowledge and long-term impact.

Current Projects

Our projects span diverse regions and focus areas, but all share a common goal: empowering communities to create sustainable change through collaboration, innovation, and data-driven research.

Six members of the AWE team stand together in Goa, India.

Alliance for Waste Equity (AWE)

AWE works with communities to develop sustainable waste management systems that benefit both people and the environment. Through geospatial research and hands-on collaboration, the project promotes better waste segregation, reduces pollution, and improves working conditions for waste workers. 

Learn More About Our Work With AWE

Lake Atitlán in Guatemala.

Water Quality Improvement in Guatemala

This initiative supports communities in the Tzalá River and Lake Atitlán basins to monitor and protect water quality. By combining citizen science, mobile data collection, and geospatial mapping, local residents are gaining tools to track contamination and safeguard vital water sources.

Learn More About Our Work in Guatemala

Aerial of Star Island, Leech Lake.

Sustainable Futures for Leech Lake

This project integrates geospatial data with community-led planning to address environmental challenges on the Leech Lake Reservation. A key component is youth engagement; equipping young people with skills in mapping, sustainability, and decision-making to help shape the future of their community.

Learn More About Our Work at Leech Lake

Satellite view of the central Himalayas.

Landscape Restoration in the Western Himalaya

GeoCommunities researchers are partnering with communities in India’s Western Himalaya to restore degraded landscapes. The project blends traditional ecological knowledge with satellite imaging and remote sensing to support sustainable land use and environmental resilience.

Learn More About Our Work in Western Himalaya

World Terrestrial Ecosystems (WTE) Project

Map of North and South America with two GeoCommunities projects highlighted.

The World Terrestrial Ecosystems (WTE) project is a GeoCommunities initiative focusing on re-mapping the planet based on climate-based attributes, such as temperature and moisture, to classify global features into 15 distinct ecosystem types, thus fundamentally moving away from political boundaries to geography beyond borders. This effort is organized around three major components: a Global Ecosystem Dashboard, an interactive platform for visualizing ecosystems alongside key metrics like pollution and population; a Story Map for Public Engagement that uses 3D globe visualization to highlight real-world communities, including seed grant projects in India, Guatemala, and Minnesota; and a focus on Policy and Research Opportunities to promote sustainability and adaptation. Ultimately, the WTE project aims to shift global thinking, analysis, and planning toward this ecosystem-based approach. 

Learn More and Explore the Story Map

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