All My Hexes Live in Texas

All My Hexes Live in Texas: Mapping Houston Traffic with PyDeck
Join MaptimeSEA for a hands-on introduction to PyDeck, a Python library for creating interactive, high-performance geospatial visualizations!

In this tutorial, we'll explore a dataset containing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) data for roads across Texas, focusing our analysis on Houston. Using PyDeck, we'll create interactive maps to visualize traffic patterns, identify heavily traveled corridors, and explore how vehicle travel varies across the city.

Along the way, we'll learn how to work with large geospatial datasets in Python, customize map styles, and create interactive visualizations that make complex transportation data easier to understand.

Thank you to The Taskar Center for Accessible Technology (TCAT) at the University of Washington for providing the meeting space for this Maptime session!

Agenda

Introduction to MaptimeSEA/ Code of Conduct (10 mins): We'll let you know about MaptimeSEA, upcoming GIS events, and the behavior we expect from you during this tutorial
An introduction to PyDeck and its visualization capabilities (15 min)
Mapping Houston Traffic with PyDeck Tutorial (1 hr 15 min)
Wrap-up (10 minutes): Final thoughts

What to Bring:

Your (charged) laptop
Anything you need to be comfortable sitting in a chair for 2 hours!

How to Prepare:

Check back in for instructions prior to the tutorial!

After the meeting
We will head to a brewery close to the venue to talk about all things mapping and meet fellow GIS enthusiasts! Feel free to bring a map or two that you'd be willing to share-- we love to see them😊

Who Should Attend
Whether you're a GIS professional, Python enthusiast, transportation nerd, or just curious about making cool maps, you're welcome! While some familiarity with Python would be helpful, no Python experience is required to complete this tutorial

Getting Here & Parking
We will meet in the Anderson Seminar Room, 271 on the 2nd floor of Building CSE2, the Bill and Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science and Engineering on the University of Washington Campus. An easy waypoint to know you are at the right computer science building: look for Microsoft Cafe!

Driving & Parking: If you're driving, the Central Plaza Garage is a convenient option, about an 8-minute walk from the building. Another option is the Padelford Parking Garage, about a 9-minute walk. Evening parking (after 4 PM) typically costs $14 at Central Plaza or $7 at Padelford. You may also have luck finding street parking in nearby neighborhoods like Wallingford and taking the bus to campus.
Looking for free parking? This map can help you identify unmanaged parking areas that may be free. Be sure to check posted signs and restrictions.
Public Transit: UW is well served by buses and Link light rail. Both the University of Washington Station (near Husky Stadium) and U District Station are options for reaching campus. You can also use Google Maps to plan a transit route.
Biking & Walking: The Burke-Gilman Trail runs right through campus, making biking or walking another great option!
Accessible Parking: Accessible parking is available in several nearby campus lots, including C14, C15, and C17. A valid disability parking placard or plate and UW parking payment are required. See UW's accessible parking information for details.
For additional directions, check out UW's Gates Center visitor information.

About the Instructor
👤Aaron Schechter is a data enthusiast who loves turning public datasets into engaging visualizations that reveal patterns in the world around us. His recent projects explore creative ways of mapping and storytelling with open data, combining technical curiosity with a passion for learning. When he’s not experimenting with new tools and techniques, Aaron shares his work through his website.