DeeDee LeMier believes using county lines to define how people actually live is outdated. Drawn in an era of horse-and-buggy travel, these borders made sense when long-distance trips were slow and daily life was local.
Today, with paved roads, remote work, and a highly mobile population, she explains the limited data available to rural communities often obscures the real story of how they are functioning. But new mobile data tools are beginning to change this — offering a clearer picture of how people move, work, and connect across regions.
This shift is playing out in rural Minnesota where LeMier, an Extension community development educator, has been working with Placer.ai, a location analytics platform that uses artificial intelligence to analyze anonymous mobile device data.
PHOTO: Two farmers standing in green wheat field using touch pad for check wheat quality. Smart farm. Agro business. (Adobe Stock │ #360040362 – maxbelchenko)
