M E M O R A N D U M
TO: File
FROM: Jameson Paine
DATE: November 20, 2000
RE: Vermont Agency of
Transportation
Pittsford and Brandon
Bypass Studies
CLD Reference No.
00-0215/00-0216
SUBJECT: CommunityViz/GIS
Presentation
ATTENDEES: Approximately 25 people, including representatives
from Brandon, Rutland Regional Planning Commission, and the Orton Family
Foundation.
LOCATION: Brandon Senior Center,
Brandon, VT
This meeting was a
presentation by the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) (primarily
Steve Schild, GIS Specialist) to demonstrate the capabilities of a suite of
extensions or add-ons to the ArcView GIS software application called
CommunityViz.
What is CommunityViz?
The software is intended to
help planners, decision makers and the general public make informed decisions
by using spatial data to help view, analyze, and understand the potential
changes that might occur due to various conditions set by the software user.
The software allows the user
to view a project area in a 3-dimensional setting. It also allows the user to change various settings or conditions
to consider “what if” scenarios (e.g., what if we change the zoning in one area
from single family to commercial, how would that affect the distribution of
development?).
The software is intended to
be a regional forecast tool for planners.
History of RRPC’s Use of CommunityViz
CommunityViz is a software
application being developed by the Orton Family Foundation. The Orton Family Foundation is a non-profit
organization, based out of Rutland, VT, that is trying to assist rural
communities with planning and managing initiatives that will allow them to
prosper, but maintain their rural character.
A detailed explanation of CommunityViz and the Orton Family Foundation
may be found at www.orton.org.
April 2000
Brandon was chosen as one of
eight communities in the United States to receive a beta test version of the
CommunityViz software. RRPC staff
received a three-day training session on how to use the software at Middlebury
College.
July/August 2000
RRPC used the CommunityViz
software to simulate the effects a bypass would have around the Town of
Brandon. The model forecasted what type
of development might occur around the bypass if no restrictions were placed in
the software (e.g., zoning regulations, natural resources, etc.). This test series gave the RRPC a chance to
work some of the bugs out of the program and communicate these findings to the
software developers.
Data and Resource Weighting System Entered into
CommunityViz
Tabular Data
In order to provide the
model with accurate information, the RRPC needed to compile a large amount of
data for each parcel within the Town of Brandon. Information entered into the CommunityViz software included:
·
Town
of Brandon Grand List
·
ES202
(employment data)
·
1990
Census – This enabled RRPC to forecast 1980 and 2000 data.
·
Equivalency
Tables – Town Zoning/Roads
▫
RRPC
had to match Brandon’s approximate 13 zoning districts into 50 different zoning
districts that were available for CommunityViz (e.g., match Brandon’s
Commercial Zone into three or four different Commercial Zones in
software). The same effort was needed
for classification of roads within the town.
Weighting System
A weighting system is used in
CommunityViz to rate various “natural” and “administrative” constraints to
determine whether development might occur where a particular constraint
exists. The rating system is from 0
(severe development restrictions) to 100 (mild restrictions).
Examples given: Natural Resources: Floodway = 0; 100-Year Floodplain =
0; Wetlands = 50; Roads = 0; Surface Water = 0
Administrative
Resources: Zoning = 0-100, depending
on zone; Historic District = 50
Model Results
Once the base data was
entered, the model was run using ArcView GIS.
The model developed “splats” (RRPC term- on plan, areas of potential
development look like paint spills or “splats” – see Orton Foundation website
for images) or areas of potential new growth based on the data that was entered. The development forecasts that CommunityViz
creates are random. If the same
information is entered into the model and it is run several times, the results
will be at least slightly different each time.
The “splats” have attributes, such as year built and type of project
structure, which can be combined with parcel data. This data can then be used in ArcView to rate all parcels in the
town by the year they are forecasted to be developed (e.g., 2000-2010) or the type
of development that is projected to occur in each parcel.
The model is only one
forecast, the RRPC recommended that the user run at least 10 or more models and
then take an average of the information compiled.
CommunityViz Graphics
A software company that
develops flight simulators for a major airline developed graphics for the
application. The software uses TIN
files (3D points) and drapes orthophotos (RRPC manually colored black and white
orthophotos to create a more realistic image) over them to create the 3D
image. The TIN files allow for a true
reflection of the area. When using the
software, the user is given the impression of flying over the area in a small
plane or helicopter (writer’s comment).
A majority of the buildings
shown in the software are available from a library of 3D buildings that comes
with the application. The user can take
digital photos of actual existing buildings and create a 3D image; however,
this is extremely time consuming. Other
3D resources, such as trees, are available to insert into the application.
Other Uses
Besides bypass projects, the
software package has been tested by other groups for subdivision projects and
various build-out scenarios.
Writer’s Comments
The CommunityViz software
package appears as though it could be a very useful planning tool. The biggest constraints that appear evident
are: initial start-up monies for software purchase, lack of initial community
based data, and needed start-up time to enter data and calibrate model. It should also be stated that the model is a
planning or projection tool.
CommunityViz is intended to assist area planners in forecasting where
development might occur. Results
of the model are not a final determination of where development will occur.
JRP:cww
|
cc: Lynn Saunders |
Dennis
Benjamin |
|
Peg Flory |
John
Narowski |
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Hank Pelkey |
Mark
Germanowski |
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Richard Baker |
Susie
Leonard |
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James O’Gorman |
Chris
Borstel |
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Mike Balch |
Kathleen
Ryan |
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Dan Peterson |
Gary
A. Klinefelter |
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Alan Neveau |
Roy
Newton |
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Scott Newman |
Ed
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Duncan Wilkie |
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Greg Riley |
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