Carnegie Mellon University student develops databases, mapping for Sharpsburg

A Carnegie Mellon University master’s student has created databases so Sharpsburg officials can better track assets, properties and prioritize possible improvements.

Federal work-study intern Taylor Popp presented preliminary results from her geographic information system, or GIS, mapping project at a council meeting March 23.

“I’ve talked to a variety of folks in the borough,” Popp said. “It feels like there’s a lot of desire for growth and improvement in the borough. People want to have more information about the borough, want to be able to track things so that we can grow further. That’s been really cool to see.”

One database involves tracking the borough’s 22 vacant properties. It color codes the buildings by length of vacancy, tax delinquency and other factors.

Popp said the information may be used to help identify structures eligible for the Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery Program, which acquires vacant, blighted properties for redevelopment, and for other efforts to get them back on the tax rolls.

Other databases track the assets of the public works department and the volunteer fire department and identify locations of hydrants, catch basins, parking meters, street benches and more.

“It’s for maintenance as well as future investments,” Popp said.

Popp created a park walkability map with color-coded streets to show which roads are three, five and 10 miles away from borough parks.

She also worked on a “Sharpsburg info bar,” in which residents can plug in their address and learn about their parcel, such as zoning information and current uses. The feature would be added to the borough website.

“This mapping allows the borough to be proactive about taking care of its resources,” Councilwoman Sarah Ishman said. “It will also be a valuable tool for residents and visitors to understand more about our borough and find the information they are looking for.”

The mapping system can be updated. Work to be done includes training borough workers to do the updates and to launch a fire department survey to collect data.

“We will use the maps to assist with operations and maintenance and to assist with prioritization of upgrades of assets,” borough Manager Christine DeRunk said. “For example, we will have an inventory of all catch basins in the borough and their conditions. When we have funding to repair catch basins, we will know which ones are in the worst condition and repair those first.”

Popp, 25, of Wilkinsburg worked last summer as Local Government Academy intern for Verona, where she created a vacant property database and assisted in developing the property section of its comprehensive plan.

Her Sharpsburg internship began in September and is expected to conclude at the end of April. She graduates in May with a master’s in public policy and management and plans to take a job in June as the lead GIS analyst for Philadelphia.

The Sharpsburg work-study was partially funded by the federal government through CMU. DeRunk said Sharpsburg had to pay only 30% of the internship, $51 per week.

In other news

Sharpsburg Mayor Brittany Reno swore in resident Denise Hoffman on March 23 as a parks and recreation commissioner.

Council appointed Peter Adams as deputy emergency management coordinator.

Clark Wigginton and Joe Girty were appointed to the zoning hearing board.

Council approved a Juneteenth celebration from 4-8 p.m. June 24 at Kennedy Park. A Sharpsburg Pride event was approved for 3-6 p.m. June 10 at Kennedy Park.

More information about each event is expected to be released closer to the scheduled dates.