Alex Din

Washington, D.C.

I am a Social Science Analyst for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). I have ten+ years of experience working with spatial data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). My work focuses on housing issues, typically spatial analysis questions regarding neighborhood change or subsidized rental housing programs.

I am an adjunct lecturer for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's master's in GIS program and a Fellow at the D.C. Policy Center.


Experience

Social Science Analyst

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Policy Development & Research | Program Monitoring and Research Division

Current Responsibilities

Research Projects

Post-Disaster HUD Exits - We are studying the locational outcomes of HUD-assisted households, both those that remain in assistance those that exit assistance, following a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

Mapping Neighborhood Change - I produce the data for and manage PD&R's Neighborhood Change Web Map. The tool allows map users to click on one-or-more census tracts to access longitudinal and quarterly administrative address data and HUD tenant data for quick data visualization and analysis.

Cityscape

I contribute extensively to Cityscape, HUD's journal for high-quality original research on housing and community development issues.

  • I have recruited guest editors for two upcoming issues of Cityscape.
  • I have been the guest editor for two issues of Cityscape. I recruited authors to submit articles and organized blind reviews of submitted articles.
  • I am the Department Editor for Graphic Detail which focuses on short articles and data visualizations. I have reviewed more than 15 contributions.
Contracting Officer's Representative (FAC-COR) Level 2

I am the COR for multiple contracts. I have worked on data acquisition contracts, interagency agreements (IAA) with other Federal partners that acquire data or leverage data resources, and research and analysis contracts.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

I use Python and SQL to create and update multiple datasets on HUDUser.gov and HUD's Geospatial Data Storefront.

I create physical maps, web maps, geocode, and perform ad-hoc spatial analysis for clients in PD&R, other HUD program areas, and outside organizations.

Other Work

I have served as a panel chair and reviewer for multiple Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) projects.

I have mentored new employees, Pathways Interns, and university students in spatial analysis. I have participated in data challenges with students from the University of Maryland College Park, the University of Washington, Georgetown University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Previous Responsibilities

I managed HUD's Geospatial Data Storefront
  • I used Python, the ArcGIS API, and PowerBI to track and visualize engagement and data downloads with HUD'S Geospatial Data Storefront.
  • I worked with contractors and other program areas to manage and update feature services.
  • I managed HUD user accounts and credit usage for hosted data.
  • Served as the point-of-contact for communication with HUD's GIS software vendor, Esri.
  • Coordinated bi-monthly Esri instructor-led training for HUD staff.
April 2019 - Present

Fellow

D.C. Policy Center
I used Python and ArcGIS Pro to perform spatial analysis and write or contribute to the following articles:
June 2022 - April 2023

Adjunct Lecturer

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Department of Geography & Environment Systems

Taught the following courses:

  • GES 600: Building Spatial Datasets
  • GES 679: Leveraging Web Data

August 2017 - Present

Housing Research and GIS Analyst

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
Office of the Secretary | Housing and Economic Research Office

I collected, stored, and utilized data from a variety of internal and external data sources for reporting on DHCD programs and housing & market conditions in Maryland. I responded to ad-hoc information requests from the Maryland General Assembly and other requestors. I migrated data from various databases and spreadsheets into a central Access database system.

Special Projects

  • I mapped Maryland's 149 Opportunity Zones
  • Rural Broadband Asset Mapping and Inventory

Regular Reports

  • Housing Beat
  • Foreclosure Events
  • Foreclosure Hot Spots
January 2018 - April 2019

GIS Analyst

Dewberry

I worked on a variety of projects and delivered products to several different clients:

  • LiDAR and breakline production for delivery to the United States Geological Survey
  • Performed analysis and reporting for PaintCare, a nonprofit that places paint collection centers in communities
  • Performed task management of six analysts assessing over 3,000 miles of riverine engineering studies in support of FEMA's Coordinated Needs Management Strategy (CNMS) program
  • Performed QA/QC support to data collected in the field following the 2016 Louisiana Floods
  • On behalf of the Fish and Wildlife Service, I remapped 30 "units" and identified five potential new "units" of the Coastal Barrier Resources System in central Long Island, New York - maps have since been made available online for public comment and review
  • Digitized and updated to new imagery all 21 "units" in Louisiana of the Coastal Barrier Resource System - maps are availble online
  • Processed Letters of Map Amendments (LOMAs) on behalf of FEMA
January 2014 - December 2017

Teaching Assistant

Towson University - Department of Geography and Environmental Planning

I held weekly office hours for students from Dr. Jeremy Tasch's Geography 101 course to come ask questions.

January 2013 - May 2013

Fair Housing Specialist Intern

Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc.

I organized paid volunteers to collect rental information for apartments in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland. Rental information was used for assessment for potential discrimination of protected groups.

January 2012 - June 2012

Publications

Amstrong, Gretchen, Alexander Din, Mariya Shcheglovitova, and Rae Winegardner. 2024. "Housing Choice Voucher Locations, 2010-2020." Cityscape 26 (2): In Press.

Din, Alexander and Xiang Chen. 2024. “Leveraging accessibility modeling to improve housing equity for low-income assisted renters: A case study in Bridgeport, Connecticut.Cities 147: 104763.

Din, Alexander and Peter Han "Does the Inclusion of Residential No-Stat Addresses Along Rural Postal Carrier Routes Improve Vacancy Rate Estimates? "Cityscape 24 (2): 69-90.

Din, Alexander. 2022. “Measuring Blight: Guest Editor’s Introduction.Cityscape 24 (2): 1-8.

Din, Alexander and Portia Hemphill. 2021. “The Hispanic Housing Experience in the United States, Part II.Cityscape 23 (3): 1-8.

Mast, Brent and Alexander Din. 2021. “Measuring Neighborhood Opportunity with Opportunity Atlas and Child Opportunity Index 2.0 Data.Cityscape 23 (1): 237-256.

Din, Alexander and Ron Wilson. 2020. “Crosswalking ZIP Codes to Census Geographies: Geoprocessing the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s ZIP Code Crosswalk Files.Cityscape 22 (1): 293-314.

Wilson, Ron and Alexander Din. 2018. “Understanding and Enhancing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's ZIP Code Crosswalk Files." Cityscape 20 (2): 277-294.

Wilson, Ron and Alexander Din. 2018. “Calculating Varying Scales of Clustering Among Locations.Cityscape 20 (1): 215-231.


Education

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

Master of Professional Studies
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
August 2013 - May 2015

Towson University

Bachelor of Science
Geography and Sociology
Metropolitan Studies
August 2010 - May 2013

Montgomery College

Associate of Arts
History
Ethnic Social Studies Certificate
August 2008 - August 2010

Skills

Programming Languages
Tools
  • Python
  • ArcGIS 10.X, ArcPro, and the ESRI suite of desktop tools
  • Basic R language
  • Familiarity with SQL
  • Enough HTML, CSS and JavaScript to customize this Bootstrap template, and configure GitHub to host this website
  • Microsoft Office Package

Awards & Certifications

  • Department of Housing and Community Development: Caught Doing Good - Opportunity Zone Mapping
  • Dewberry: Dewberry At Work - Contribution to August 2016 Louisiana Flooding Response
  • Association of State Floodplain Managers - Certified Floodplain Manager (May 2014 - July 2016)