Planning for a Pedestrian-Friendly Neighborhood Using

3D GIS-Based Visualizations

Cana McCoy August 16, 2006

• Background & Goals

• Preliminary Research

• Methods

• Results & Conclusions

Background & Goals

• Revitalizing Pomeroy Village streetscape planning process

• Providing Amherst with reusable 3D GIS data and useful results from public survey and traffic analysis

• Evaluating the costs and utility of a particular method for creating 3D visualizations

• Aiding the continued integration of GIS into planning

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Preliminary Research• Around 10 scholarly articles,

from sources such as – Journal of Urban Planning and

Development– Journal of the American

Planning Association– Landscape and Urban Planning– Computers, Environment and

Urban System– Transportation Research

Record

• Trade magazine articles and conference proceedings for most recent information– GeoWorld– Earth Observation Magazine– 2005 ESRI User Conference

• Amherst planning studies from Town and student researchers

Methods

• Pomeroy Village Public Survey

• Traffic Measurement & Analysis

Methods• Creation of

3D GIS Data & Visualizations

• Resource Accounting

• Public Meeting

• Did you find these visuals helpful? □ Yes □ Somewhat □ No

• Did the visuals have: □ Too much detail □ Just the right amount of detail □ Not enough detail

• Were you able to identify the locations shown in the computer-generated pictures? □ I could easily identify them □ Eventually, I could identify them all □ There were some where I couldn’t □ Not at all

• Did the visuals give you a good sense of how a possible future streetscape might look? □ Yes □ Somewhat, or only for certain aspects □ No

• In general, do you find the use of 3-D images like these in a public meeting to be a useful approach? □ Yes □ No

• Did you fill out the Pomeroy Village public survey? □ Yes □ No

• If yes, did you change your mind on any of the questions posed in the survey after this meeting? □ Yes □ No

Exit Questionnaire for Public Meeting

Results & Conclusions

• Previous reports tells us that the village center has been planned for some time, but implementation is slow.

• The public survey yielded both lessons and results.

• Traffic analysis indicated that intersection performance will need to be carefully examined as part of any changes.

Results & Conclusions

• Creation of 3D scenes was limited by both time, and software/hardware capabilities, but was ultimately successful.

• Time and resources required to achieve useful results were reasonable, and products can be reused extensively.

• The visualizations were a useful and clear tool which aided the public in understanding and discussing plans.

ThankThankyou!you!

Town of Amherst – Planning Department– IT Department– Department of Public Works– Design Review Board

UMass – LARP and CEE

My Committee: Dr. Rick TaupierNiels la CourDr. Michael Knodler