There's no shortcut to solving the affordable housing crisis in the U.S., but identifying a logical way to present housing data is a critical first step. To visually explain the potential impact of regulatory changes on the housing crisis, Cotton and his team decided to create the Montana Zoning Atlas. The interactive GIS map lets public officials and residents access a visual representation of Montana's housing data. Related:Microsoft layoffs and the AI effect: What you need to knowWorking closely with the National Zoning Atlas project was also helpful in creating the Montana Zoning Atlas, Cotton said. Turning GIS maps into housing reformUltimately, those hundreds of hours of data collection and GIS mapping proved fruitful.