2021-06-28

[public] 406K views, 25.2K likes, dislikes audio only

AlphaPhoenix

If you're a long-time viewer, you'll know that I *really* like random numbers. Today, I'm USING random numbers to generate some distinctly nonrandom maps. I first heard of Monte Carlo simulations in undergraduate computational physics, and have long thought about using it to draw maps with optimized districts. (see "Ising model" for a very similar physics simulation).

I wrote a program to draw maps of Gerrymandered (or not) congressional districts in the state of North Carolina. I'm not getting into the methods and politics, I just think gerrymandering is a fascinating problem to solve, and the Monte Carlo simulation is great at it! You program in an initial condition, and your "desired election results", and the program handles the rest, adjusting the map pixel-by-pixel until it aligns to your desired metrics (and either a really GOOD map, or a really BAD map).

Sharable GIF:

https://gfycat.com/illfatedgargantuankusimanse

Extra links for the curious:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ising_model

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markov_chain_Monte_Carlo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis%E2%80%93Hastings_algorithm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering

Source for election data by precinct (note that precincts and Census tracts are not the same shapes):

https://openprecincts.org/

#Gerrymandering #Politics #Math

Music in this video:

I Dunno by grapes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

http://ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626

Arcadia - Wonders by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100326

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Dial Up Internet Sound BY SPANAC, Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) http://www.freesoundslibrary.com