TAMIU Logistechs Living Lab Summer Bootcamp Participants Learn Data Visualization Skills for Cross-Border Trade Analysis
Twenty participants have successfully completed Texas A&M International University's (TAMIU) inaugural Logistechs Living Lab Summer Bootcamp on Cross-Border Trade Flow Analysis, demonstrating advanced data visualization capabilities through innovative dashboard presentations held recently.
The five-day intensive program, hosted by TAMIU's A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business (Sanchez School) Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development (Texas Center), and funded by a TAMIU Innovation Grant through the Office of the President, equipped students and industry professionals with practical skills to analyze México-U.S. trade patterns using Tableau software.
Dr. Daniel Covarrubias, Texas Center Director and Bootcamp co-leader and instructor, shared the transformational impact of the Bootcamp.
"We designed this Bootcamp to take participants from zero to dashboard in five days, and what we witnessed at the end of the Bootcamp was remarkable. Participants transformed raw trade data into compelling visual stories that revealed hidden patterns in cross-border trade. Their dashboards uncovered insights about border bottlenecks, seasonal trade fluctuations, and untapped market opportunities. This is exactly the kind of data-driven thinking our region needs to optimize its role as North America's premier trade corridor," Dr. Covarrubias explained.
Participants worked with a comprehensive dataset containing over 145,000 real shipment records from 2022, including 96 product categories, trade routes, and values between México and the United States. Through hands-on instruction, they mastered over ten different visualization types, from basic bar charts to complex geographic heat maps and interactive dashboards.
Dr. Luis Perez-Batres, Dean of the Sanchez School of Business, said the insights participants delivered were impressive.
“This Bootcamp exemplifies the Sanchez School’s commitment to bridging theory and practice through action-based learning. I had the opportunity to sit through the final presentations and was genuinely impressed by the quality of insights our participants delivered. Working with real cross-border trade data proved to be a powerful means for developing the ability to identify broader economic patterns and translate them into actionable business strategies. This kind of applied understanding is what equips students to lead and create value from day one in today’s data-driven economy,” Dr. Perez said.
The Bootcamp culminated in team presentations where participants showcased original dashboards addressing real-world logistics challenges. Projects ranged from visualizing origin-destination trade patterns between Mexican and U.S. cities to creating heat maps of state-to-state commerce, tree maps showing commodity distribution across 96 product categories, and geographic analyses revealing trade concentration by border states and metropolitan areas.
Dr. Geoffrey Hubona, TAMIU associate professor and Bootcamp instructor, emphasized the program's practical focus.
"What impressed me most was how quickly participants progressed from basic visualizations to sophisticated analytical thinking,” Dr. Hubona explained, “By day five, they were thinking like data analysts, asking the right questions and letting the data guide their discoveries."
The intensive curriculum covered data preparation, visualization best practices, interactive dashboard creation, and data storytelling techniques. Participants received comprehensive training materials, including a custom manual with step-by-step instructions for creating professional-grade visualizations.
Several Bootcamp participants indicated plans to immediately apply their new skills in their workplaces, with applications ranging from supply chain optimization to customs operations analysis. Each graduate received a Certificate of Participation and is now part of the Logistechs Living Lab community and is equipped to help their organizations, Covarrubias said.
"With so many current trade disruptions, professionals who can visualize and interpret trade data will be invaluable," added Covarrubias, "These Bootcamp graduates are now equipped to help their organizations navigate the complexities of North American trade with data-driven confidence."
He noted that the success of this inaugural Bootcamp has prompted plans for additional programs, with the next session tentatively scheduled for Summer 2026. Organizations interested in custom training or partnering with the Logistechs Living Lab are encouraged to contact the Texas Center.
For more information about the Logistechs Living Lab or TAMIU's Texas Center initiatives, please visit http://texascenter.tamiu.edu, email Dr. Covarrubias at dcova@tamiu.edu, or call 956.326.2520.
Registration for the Fall Semester 2025 at TAMIU is underway now. Visit the Registration Hub for details.
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