Project Objectives:

When we arrived in Tbilisi, we still had some project details to sort out as we had encountered issues with one of our original plans; mapping underground caves using LIDAR technology.

We attempted to acquire a LIDAR from two main sources, a company in Hong Kong and a company in Spain. However, due to our lack of experience with using LIDARs and the time required to ship the equipment to Georgia, this plan did not go through.

Instead, we decided to focus on spatial data analysis. We spent the rest of the trip designing a map with several layers of Tbilisi. This map included social and physical factors, allowing us to compare features like the altitude gradient with average property prices in different parts of the city.

Process:

Our time in Georgia was primarily spent coding and finding the right data sources to compile these maps. We also visited different districts to compare the data we were analyzing with the real situation in the city. In addition, we conducted interviews and held meetings with several leading academics and experts in the field of urban spatial analysis in Tbilisi. We used many of these insights to refine our models and determine which data could be used effectively.

Outcome:

After a summer of work, we managed to overlay some of the data we had gathered onto maps that the organization had already used for other projects and conducted some qualitative analysis on the topic.

Personal Development:

There were several challenges we faced throughout this project, but it taught us key leadership skills:

1. Intercultural Collaboration: Our team had to communicate with the organization, most of whom were experts in architecture and urban mapping. This required us to adapt to the specific terminologies used in the field and understand Tbilisi's modern history.

2. Effective Collaboration: Our team comprised four members, each with different specialties and schedules. This necessitated interdisciplinary collaboration, which was sometimes challenging as we would also have differnet knowledge pools and skills which had to considered before assigning tasks.

3. Championing Endangered Cultures: Georgia's modern history includes long periods of foreign occupation, affecting its language, culture, and urban landscape. We approached this topic with care and sensitivity, understanding the potential implications of our research.

4. Scheduling: One of the struggles throughout the project was managing the timetable. Due to the project's size and complexity, I sometimes left certain tasks for later which caused delays as those pieces may have been more curcial than I would have thought them to be at first.

5. Communication: Another challenge was maintaining continuous collaboration. This project highlighted the importance of regular communication with the team to work more effectively. Better communication on my end would have also helped avoid redundant efforts as I would have known to repeat a task another teammate may have already worked on and vice versa.

Conclusion:

This project has underscored the value of collaborative, interdisciplinary, and intercultural efforts in research. Despite the challenges, it offered an invaluable learning experience in adjusting to unexpected obstacles and working cohesively within a team with diverse skillsets and backgrounds.