Methodology
How we identify and classify foundation-related construction activity
Data Source
Soilshift uses the City of Austin's Issued Construction Permits dataset, published through Austin Open Data (Socrata platform). This dataset includes building permits issued from 2006 to present, updated regularly. Each record contains permit details including issue date, description, address, and geographic coordinates.
Classification System
We analyze permit descriptions using a keyword-based scoring system to infer foundation relevance. Each permit receives:
- Foundation Score (0-100): Confidence that the permit relates to foundation work
- Category: Classification as repair, stabilization, new construction, or unknown
- Match Reasons: Keywords that triggered the classification (transparency)
Keyword Groups
High-Confidence (50 points)
Strong indicators of foundation-specific work
Medium-Confidence (25 points)
May indicate foundation-related work
New Construction (30 points)
Foundation work for new buildings (categorized separately)
Exclusions (-20 points)
Reduce score for unrelated work
Limitations & Disclaimers
- •Inference-based: Classifications are derived from text descriptions and may be incomplete or inaccurate.
- •Not diagnostic: This data does not diagnose structural issues or property conditions.
- •Public records only: Only includes permitted work reported to the City of Austin.
- •No warranty: Data provided "as-is" for informational purposes.
Spatial Aggregation
The heatmap uses H3 hexagonal binning to aggregate permits into geographic cells. Resolution adjusts based on zoom level—larger hexagons for city-wide views, smaller for neighborhood detail. This approach protects individual privacy while revealing spatial patterns.
Data Updates
The ingestion pipeline runs incrementally, syncing new and updated permits from Austin Open Data. Last sync timestamp is displayed in the filter panel.
Soilshift is built with transparency in mind. Classification rules are documented in code and matched keywords are shown for each permit.
Questions? Contact us at hello@soilshift.app