03-05-2007 09:12

KathieK

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

This gives a nice visual of the growth in FIRST in the U.S. - does that include all four programs, or just FRC? The background layer of percentage of engineers in the workforce was surprising to see. Some states which I thought would include more engineers were lighter, while others whom I didn't expect to have as many engineers were darker in color. Nice job!

03-05-2007 09:22

whytheheckme

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I agree. This is a very nice map. Lets hope to see this map be all red and pink one day!

Jacob

03-05-2007 09:37

seanl

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

oh.... i think i see us

great gob by the way

03-05-2007 09:48

JudyVandy

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I know I see us!

Nice job, and, as someone already mentioned, some surprises for me.

03-05-2007 10:02

Jeremiah Johnson

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

WHAT?! We're not on there! See for yourself... we should be where the Mississippi bends east to west on the border of IL and IA... grr...

This is pretty cool...

03-05-2007 10:10

Mr MOE

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Awesome Job!!!!! This took some work, but looks fantastic.

What program did you use to graph this?

-j-

03-05-2007 11:00

fluffy

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

and dark blue!

good job

03-05-2007 11:01

Barry Bonzack

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Its nice to have an updated team list, I still have been using the one from 2004

This one shows the team numbers instead of dots, is that possible to do with your program by chance? If not, this is still really cool.

Wow. Check out the explosion of rookie teams in Kasnsas City. Regionals really have an impact on the amount of teams in the surrounding area.

03-05-2007 11:03

EHaskins

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Looks great. I would like to see a world map with FRC, FLL, and FVC.

03-05-2007 11:16

Gabe

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Hey!!! Don't forget Alaska and Hawaii

03-05-2007 11:21

David Brinza

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

This is a very cool map...
Could you determine the "mean geographic center" of the FIRST teams?

I'm talking about something like the Wikipedia: mean center of US population.

In 1992, the center of FIRST teams would have been in the northeast (since the majority of the teams were from MA, NH, NY, NJ). Because of the strong growth of FIRST across the country (especially on the west coast), I suspect the geographic center now would be some around Indiana or Illinois. It might be interesting to see the "westward migration" of FIRST.

(BTW: I was in high school near the place where the population center crossed the Mississippi in the early '70s). I've since migrated west as well (1978).

03-05-2007 11:21

Beth Sweet

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

That's nice! I've been putting one together just for Michigan, and this will give me some ideas on exactly how to do it! Thanks!

03-05-2007 11:45

vhcook

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Actually, we're predominantly second year teams. 2006 was a good year. (Thank you, Kauffman Foundation)

03-05-2007 12:08

Donut

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

That is a crazy awesome map. Really shows the effect that having a Regional in the area can have, just look at all those team clusters!

I can't see a few states in the NorthEast

03-05-2007 12:36

Nica F.

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

It looks like a couple trips need to be made to Nebraska and Kentucky!

And I also think Hawaii and Alaska should be on there.
Hopefully soon, we could create an interactive International mapping of FRC, FVC, and FLL teams.

03-05-2007 12:37

Elgin Clock

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Time to make some predictions.

My prediction for the next regional: Kansas City Kansas/Missouri. lol

(It would give me an excuse to go see some family out there if there was one in the future.)

03-05-2007 12:46

IndySam

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

One of those dots around Cincinnati is team 554 from Ft. Thomas, KY.

It is surprising that there are no teams in the Louisville or Knoxville areas.

03-05-2007 12:54

dlavery

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Hey look! I can see me waving!

Damian - very nice work. Another interesting overlay would be to show the location of the competition events. It would be a nice indicator of the correlation between event locations and team concentrations (and where future events should be located).

It would be harder to obtain the data, but it would also be very interesting to map the locations of teams that no longer exist, and when they dropped out of the program. Is there a geographic correlation between teams that drop out of the program and things like distance to nearest regional, distance to Manchester, regional of the country, etc.?

-dave

03-05-2007 12:55

The Lucas

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Very interesting.

One question about Arkansas. I see Bomb Squad in Mountain Home in northern AR but which team is in Central AR (around Little Rock)? I thought 16 was the only team in AR?

03-05-2007 14:50

Pavan Dave

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Wow. I'm surprised New Mexico is dark blue but has few first teams. That is very unfortunate.

*whispers*
I wonder what the correlation of robotics events and robotics teams (not just FIRST) there are, and if we could, get an idea of what is popular where, so we know where to send our artillery ex.Oklahoma - Botball
*/whispers*

Pavan

03-05-2007 14:56

Cory

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Wasn't 356 or some number thereabouts in Arkansas?

03-05-2007 15:02

AdamHeard

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

what about canada? there is a great deal of teams up there.

03-05-2007 15:05

Nica F.

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

There are indeed a great deal of FIRST teams in Canada but this is a Spread of the US FIRST teams.

Like I said in my earlier post though, It would be nice to have an international spread as well.

03-05-2007 16:06

Donut

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

New Mexico is a big BEST area... maybe that has something to do with it? I think at least 2 of the 4 FIRST teams from there compete in BEST as well as FIRST.

03-05-2007 16:18

GaryVoshol

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

A very interesting map.

Where you have conglomerations of teams (NE coast, SE Mich, CA cities, etc.) have the dots been offset so they all show up?

I'm thinking the conglomerations correspond more to population than to distance from regionals, with some very strong correlation to sponsors (Mich and KC, for example).

The map also shows potentials for growth - Louisville, Nashville and Memphis, for example.

Good work. Dots of another type coming your way.

03-05-2007 17:35

artdutra04

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I'm thinking the latter is correct too.



I see a ton of metropolis' in the country (clusters of black dots), where there are very few, if any, FRC teams - especially in the middle states. Those are the areas where we should focus our new team efforts, as it is in these cities where there is large, untapped potential for growth.

03-05-2007 17:54

FIXIT

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

This is great!

03-05-2007 18:11

Ninjitsu Banana

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I know I sound like a broken record, but this is a very cool map.

I just found Team 461...it's easy to find in Indiana because the three Purdue FIRST teams are three dots squished together.

03-05-2007 19:32

David Brinza

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I presume the "lol" is because there already is a KC Regional - 2007 was their inaugural year and was a smashing success...

03-05-2007 20:51

Otaku

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Now let's play "Spot your team".

See the big cluster of teams near SF? See the lone dot north of SF? It's kind of dark? That's 675. =]

03-05-2007 20:54

vivek16

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

looks like the east coast

they look like zits.
wow i think we need way more teams in minnesota... theyre all clumped around the metro.

03-05-2007 21:19

Tetraman

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I strongly suggest this. Though maybe nothing would come of it, if it actually does, maybe the President's Circle will have something to discuss.

03-05-2007 21:40

115inventorsam

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

You guys see the 3 darkest dots in the Bay Area squished together? The bottom one is 115. I'm surprised that I could find it.

To be more specific, the darkest one on top is 8, the one showing out a bit below is 114, and showing out the bottom of that is 115.

At least I think that's what it is, these 3 teams are the oldest that I know of in the area.

03-05-2007 21:55

David Brinza

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Yes, Team 356 from Little Rock.
Folks on the Bomb Squad called them "the other team from Arkansas." I believe 356 competed from ~2001 to 2004.

More trivia: the two Arkansas teams were in the same alliance in the St. Louis Regional in "Stack Attack". I think they made it to the finals.

03-05-2007 22:13

Jeremiah Johnson

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Name was Enigma... they were purple and neon green and always had neon green plexiglass on there robot somewhere. Pretty interesting. They did compete only until 2004.

03-05-2007 22:40

adengler

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Awww! No Hawaii teams!

04-05-2007 01:26

FunkyRatDemon

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Team 753 is in Central Oregon (were not on there )

04-05-2007 01:33

Zyik

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

In the middle of the coast of California there should only be two dots... 973 and the team we started down in AG, Eagle Robotics (blanking on number sorry guys). That third dot is looking at me funny and it doesnt belong. Its kind of sad that I can spot my team so easy, we need to start more teams in central Cali apparently.

04-05-2007 01:41

BRosser314

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

nice would you mine if this is used for other FIRST related things as a team poject or to include in presentations???

04-05-2007 10:54

Brandon Holley

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

There is absolutely no possible way team 125 can be seen on this map (boston)

04-05-2007 11:19

Gabe

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Too many dots around San Jose. Speaks to the number of Calofrnia teams that you can't even pick out my individual team.

04-05-2007 11:25

Billfred

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I was looking on this map, and I'm thinking there's an error in South Carolina.

Around the middle part of the state, there's a clump of about five teams, some with what look to be rookie years circa 2000. There's only four active teams around here (1293, 1398, 1618, 1959), and the youngest of them got their start in 2004. Was there some sort of default placement for teams if the city didn't mesh?

04-05-2007 15:14

RoboMom

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Damien, great project! In the world of public health (where I come from) there are maps like this used in epidemiology.
Have you thought about sending to frcteams@usfirst.org?

04-05-2007 15:15

Cory

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

If I remember correctly, the three oldest CA teams are actually 100, 8, and 192.

I know the first two are the oldest. 100 started in 95. 8 started in 96(I think? maybe 97) and I believe 192 started in 1997.

04-05-2007 15:50

dlavery

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

It has already been done, and FIRST has been taking a look at it since yesterday.

Damian - they will be in touch.

-dave

04-05-2007 15:53

1629coalition

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I dont think that 1629 is on there!!! We are in Western Maryland, and I see no little dot!!!!!! We started in 2005!!!! Hook us up on the map!!!!

04-05-2007 16:05

Richard Wallace

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I recall seeing 356 Enigma at the St. Louis Regional in 2002, 2003, and 2004. I also recall that they were allied with 16 and 525 for eliminations in 2003 but that alliance did not reach the finals. See the Wayback Machine archive for 2003 St. Louis Regional awards and results.

In 2004, 356 was the highest seeded team not to be picked for eliminations at St. Louis -- they were pretty disappointed about that and told me so as they were packing to leave. They declined to be the first stand-by robot.

04-05-2007 18:09

115inventorsam

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Woops, you got me on that one, I wasn't thinking straight. Now I need to re-examine that map to check who's where, 8, 100, 192, 114, and 115 are pretty close together on the map, so it's hard to find them on the map, plus they are all pretty dark red.

Here's some data which is probably inaccurate, from the FIRST team pages
8: 1996
100: 1998
114: 1997
115: 1998(This one I can confirm)
192: 1997
Again as I said, not necessarily correct, maybe someone can give the proper year for these teams?

And finally, maybe someone really skilled could make an interactive map making it go year by year, that would be pretty cool.

04-05-2007 18:16

Michael Corsetto

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

114 was started in 1997 for sure BTW.

04-05-2007 18:48

=Martin=Taylor=

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

You have to keep in mind that permanent numbers were not always the case...

Perhaps we received team # "100" in 1998 but the team was actually founded in 1995. We have a championship banner to prove that

04-05-2007 18:52

EricH

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I think I recognized 330, 294, 207, and either 4 or 22 (not sure which) in the LA area cluster (They're the darkest 4. 330 and 294 are almost on top of each other.) Yes, there are that many teams in the L.A. area. I think in the past two years, we've only had one non-California team show up per year, and only two or three non-SoCal teams. This is at a 50-team event.

04-05-2007 20:55

Guy Davidson

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

As far as 8 goes, he's correct. We started in 1996. That makes us the second oldest team in the Bay Area, after Woodside.

04-05-2007 21:06

Vashts6583

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

007 is there, and to repeat the repitions repetitively, great job times 5.

I wonder if, over the course of the next two or three years, the face of FIRST will be changing a little, and bringing in more teams from other areas of the country.

Nexr project: WORLD MAP!!



good luck

05-05-2007 11:13

gblake

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

If "percentage of population" means percentage of STATE population and not percentage of US population, then at first glance, some states can be expected to be a surprising shade of blue.

9 engineers in a state with a population of 10 would turn that state dark blue. A state with 900 engineers in a population of a million would be lighter....

Damien will have to tell us if he used percentages of state populations or percentages of US population.

Blake
PS: Plus, the occasional large installation in the middle of nowhere (like Los Alamos) will surprise you the first time you realize just how big they are.

05-05-2007 11:39

gblake

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I am a U Ky BSEE alumnus and a Triangle Fraternity (a "greek" fraternity of engineers architects and scientists) alumnus.

Kentucky is in my sights. The problem is that I live in Northern VA....

At UK there is an FRC judge in the College of Engineering who has establishing connections between the college, its coop program and businesses as part of his duties.

I took classes from the Engineer/Entrepreneur who is now the president of the University, and I am 100% confident he would encourage FIRST to put the pedal-to-the-metal in Kentucky.

UK and U of L, respectively are within about 90 and 120 minutes of Ft Thomas.

The Triangle Chapters at both schools are good strong groups of young studious leaders involved in their campuses and their communities.

What "we" need to do is to get a link between those pools of talent and labor, and 2-3 schools in each city. In three to five years FIRST, UK/UL and Triangle will all be stronger and have grown.... And then we can move on to starting teams in my hometown of Lone Oak / Paducah; where UK has a large satellite campus of their engineering college (and then Ashland, Bowling Green, Frankfort, Georgetown (Toyota Camry), Morehead, Murray,...)

Who knows of any other resources in Ky?

Who is close enough to Lexington/Louisville to take advantage of the current circumstances and turn those resources into a perfect storm?

Blake

05-05-2007 11:46

Joe Ross

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

Here are some previous maps that were done by other people over the years. Looking at all of them gives a good idea of the growth of FIRST.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/18808
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/19353
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/19459
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/19344

05-05-2007 13:30

Rob2713g

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

That's really cool! What did you use to make it?

05-05-2007 13:39

Richard Wallace

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

I can't quite see the dot on Papillon, Nebraska (just south of Omaha) home of FRC 2044. They were at the Kansas City Regional, seeded ninth, and reached the semifinals in an alliance that included the Bomb Squad.

So all 50 states have at least one FRC team.

05-05-2007 16:48

Damian Manda

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

This thread was closed for a while yesterday, so sorry it took a while to respond. Thanks everyone for the great response. Many great ideas have been thrown out and I would like to do more myself when I have time. As for a larger area, it would have looked too sparse on a world map (lets change that!) and one grading criteria was good density of data. I also didn't include Alaska and Hawaii for space reasons, but have the data and it would be easy to add.

To answer a few people's questions, from the original shapefile that I created, the points were manipulated to spread them out in high density areas so that most points are visible (although I probably missed a few that are still stacked). As noted some teams are in the wrong place (there is a dot for each team). When the cities were georeferenced, some ended up in the completely wrong places, so I actually repeated the process 4 times and took the average of the ones that matched, but even
then, I manually corrected a few and am sure there are some that did not map correctly. It would be fairly straightforward to show team numbers, since that was integrated as a field into the shapefile for the GIS, but the high density areas would be difficult to show in a way that all could be visible and readable, but I will see what I can do. I looked quickly for lego league data, but couldn't find any easily, but I think maps of the other competitions would be cool as well. Also, the percentages are of total employment in each state to answer that question.

Anyone is welcome to use this for materials promoting or explaining FIRST or any other purpose you see fit. That is one of the reasons I wanted to share this in the first place, I was sure some people could find uses for it. I would appreciate if you left on my name, but other than that feel free distribute the map.

07-05-2007 13:36

Jevin H

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

That is hard because we are not on the map

15-05-2007 09:44

robostangs548

Re: pic: Spread of US FIRST Teams

That looks sweet!