PRC staff has been conducting research in applications of GIS to demographic analysis and planning. These studies include a comparative analysis of estimation errors in GIS- and non-GIS-based methods of small-area population estimates, research into applications of GIS to school enrollment forecasting, development of raster-based spatial interpolation techniques.

Additionally, GIS techniques have been used in several research projects in urban, population and social geography, including an on-going comparative study of urban diversity and civic engagement in Portland (OR) and Pittsburgh (PA), and several studies of the role of local civic places for neighborhood stability and vitality in Portland and its metropolitan area.

The results of these efforts have been presented at annual meetings of professional organizations such as Population Association of America, Association of American Geographers, ESRI International User Conference, ESRI Educational User Conference, Southern Demographic Association, and others.