401 B Street

Suite 800 San Diego, CA 92101-4231

REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM OVERVIEW

July 2004

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The 18 cities and county government are SANDAG serving as the forum for regional decision-making. The Association builds consensus, makes

strategic plans, obtains and allocates resources, and provides information on a broad range of topics pertinent to the region’s quality of life.

CHAIR: Hon. Mickey Cafagna VICE CHAIR: Hon. Mary Sessom

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Gary L. Gallegos

CITY OF CARLSBAD Hon. Ramona Finnila, Mayor Pro Tem (A) Hon. Bud Lewis, Mayor (A) Hon. Matt Hall, Councilmember CITY OF CHULA VISTA Hon. Steve Padilla, Mayor (A) Hon. Patty Davis, Councilmember (A) Hon. Jerry Rindone, Councilmember CITY OF CORONADO Hon. Phil Monroe, Mayor Pro Tem (A) Hon. Frank Tierney, Councilmember CITY OF DEL MAR Hon. Crystal Crawford, Councilmember (A) Hon. Richard Earnest, Mayor (A) Hon. David Druker, Councilmember CITY OF EL CAJON Hon. Mark Lewis, Mayor (A) Hon. Gary Kendrick, Mayor Pro Tem CITY OF ENCINITAS Hon. Christy Guerin, Councilmember (A) Hon. Maggie Houlihan, Mayor CITY OF ESCONDIDO Hon. Lori Holt Pfeiler, Mayor (A) Hon. Ed Gallo, Councilmember (A) Hon. Ron Newman, Councilmember CITY OF IMPERIAL BEACH Hon. Patricia McCoy, Mayor Pro Tem (A) Hon. Diane Rose, Mayor (A) Hon. Mayda Winter, Councilmember CITY OF LA MESA Hon. Barry Jantz, Councilmember (A) Hon. David Allan, Councilmember (A) Hon. Ernie Ewin, Vice Mayor CITY OF LEMON GROVE Hon. Mary Sessom, Mayor (A) Hon. Jill Greer, Mayor Pro Tem (A) Hon. Jerry Jones, Councilmember CITY OF NATIONAL CITY Hon. Ron Morrison, Councilmember (A) Hon. Frank Parra, Deputy Mayor CITY OF OCEANSIDE Hon. Jack Feller, Councilmember (A) Hon. Terry Johnson, Mayor CITY OF POWAY Hon. Mickey Cafagna, Mayor (A) Hon. Don Higginson, Deputy Mayor (A) Hon. Robert Emery, Councilmember CITY OF SAN DIEGO Hon. Dick Murphy, Mayor Hon. Jim Madaffer, Councilmember (A) Hon. Scott Peters, Councilmember

CITY OF SAN MARCOS Hon. Corky Smith, Mayor (A) Hon. Pia Harris-Ebert, Councilmember CITY OF SANTEE Hon. Hal Ryan, Councilmember (A) Hon. Randy Voepel, Mayor (A) Hon. Jack Dale, Councilmember CITY OF SOLANA BEACH Hon Joe Kellejian, Mayor (A) Hon. David Powell, Councilmember CITY OF VISTA Hon. Morris Vance, Mayor (A) Hon. Judy Ritter, Councilmember (A) Hon. Bob Campbell, Councilmember COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO Hon. Dianne Jacob, Chairwoman (A) Hon. Greg Cox, Supervisor CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Advisory Member) Jeff Morales, Director (A) Pedro Orso-Delgado, District 11 Director METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM (Advisory Member) Leon Williams, Chairman (A) Hon. Jerry Rindone, Vice Chairman (A) Hon. Bob Emery, Board Member NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Advisory Member) Hon. Judy Ritter, Chair (A) Hon. Tom Golich, Board Member (A) Hon. Ed Gallo, Board Member IMPERIAL COUNTY (Advisory Member) Hon. Victor Carrillo, Supervisor (A) Hon. David Ouzan, Mayor U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Advisory Member) CAPT Christopher Schanze, USN, CEC Commander, Southwest Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command (A) CAPT Richard Gamble, USN, CEC SAN DIEGO UNIFIED PORT DISTRICT (Advisory Member) Jess Van Deventer, Commissioner (A) Michael Bixler, Commissioner (A) Peter Q. Davis, Commissioner SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY (Advisory Member) Hon. Bud Lewis, Director (A) Bernie Rhinerson, Director BAJA CALIFORNIA/MEXICO (Advisory Member) Hon. Luis Cabrera Cuaron Consul General of Mexico

As of July 1, 2004

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ABSTRACT

TITLE: Regional Information System Overview

AUTHOR: San Diego Association of Governments

DATE: July 2004

SOURCE OF COPIES:

San Diego Association of Governments 401 B Street, Suite 800 San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 699-1900

NUMBER OF PAGES:

62

ABSTRACT: SANDAG’s Regional Information System is a fullyintegrated system of data, computer hardware and software, and staff that performs data processing andanalysis. The data and the technical capabilities that arethe focus of this report have been developed over theyears as required to accomplish specific tasks or projects.This report describes the Regional Information System in detail, along with real world examples of its uses.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 3

Regional Information System ............................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3 Applications: Utilizing the Regional Information System (Sample Studies) ............................ 3 RIS Components: Hardware and Software................................................................................. 4 RIS Components: Data and Geographic Information ................................................................ 4 Accessing the RIS through the Internet...................................................................................... 4

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................... 7

History of Sandag ................................................................................................................................ 7 Sandag Responsibilities and initiatives .............................................................................................. 8 Regional Information System (RIS) ..................................................................................................... 9

RIS Availability.............................................................................................................................. 9 RIS Applications............................................................................................................................ 9 RIS Overview Report Components............................................................................................ 10

Additional Information ..................................................................................................................... 10

APPLICATIONS: UTILIZING THE REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM .............................................. 13

Defining and Profiling Service/Market Areas .................................................................................. 13 Sample Studies ........................................................................................................................... 13

Public Facility Location Analysis........................................................................................................ 14 Sample Studies ........................................................................................................................... 14

Land Use/Transportation Demand Forecasting ............................................................................... 15 Sample Studies ........................................................................................................................... 15 Defining Transportation Improvement Assessment Areas ..................................................... 16

General/Community Plan Analysis.................................................................................................... 16 Sample Studies ........................................................................................................................... 17

Economic Analysis, Fiscal Impact Analysis and Market Feasibility Studies .................................... 17 Sample Studies ........................................................................................................................... 18

Survey Design and Analysis ............................................................................................................... 18 Sample Studies ........................................................................................................................... 19

Criminal Justice Analysis.................................................................................................................... 19 Sample Studies ........................................................................................................................... 19

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Desktop Geographic Information System (GIS) Application Development................................... 20 Sample Study.............................................................................................................................. 20

Interactive Mapping .......................................................................................................................... 20

RIS COMPONENTS: HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE........................................................................... 27

Computer Hardware and Operating Systems.................................................................................. 27 Application Software......................................................................................................................... 27

Analytical Tools .......................................................................................................................... 27 Database Managers ................................................................................................................... 28 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)..................................................................................... 28 Graphics ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Internet Tools ............................................................................................................................. 29 Programming Languages .......................................................................................................... 29 Computer Models ...................................................................................................................... 30

Transferring Digital Data .................................................................................................................. 32

RIS COMPONENTS: GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND DATABASES........................................................... 37

Geographic Areas .............................................................................................................................. 37 Databases ........................................................................................................................................... 37

Census ......................................................................................................................................... 37 Criminal Justice .......................................................................................................................... 39 Demographic and Economic Estimates .................................................................................... 40 Non-Residential Estimates ......................................................................................................... 41 Land Layers................................................................................................................................. 41 Regional Growth Forecast......................................................................................................... 42 Transit ......................................................................................................................................... 43 Other Transportation Information ........................................................................................... 43 Other Regional Surveys: Public Opinion Survey ...................................................................... 45

Digital Boundary Files and Layers..................................................................................................... 47 Administrative Boundaries ........................................................................................................ 47 District Boundaries..................................................................................................................... 47 Base Map Features ..................................................................................................................... 48 Imagery....................................................................................................................................... 48 Land Layers................................................................................................................................. 48 Sensitive Lands/Natural Resources ............................................................................................ 49 Transportation Networks (Existing and Proposed).................................................................. 49

Maps ................................................................................................................................................... 53 Publication Maps........................................................................................................................ 53 Custom Maps.............................................................................................................................. 54 Interactive Mapping .................................................................................................................. 54

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ACCESSING THE RIS THROUGH THE INTERNET ................................................................................ 57

The SANDAG Web Site ...................................................................................................................... 57 Programs..................................................................................................................................... 57 Resources .................................................................................................................................... 58 Services........................................................................................................................................ 61 Other Information Available..................................................................................................... 61

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Application Software ..................................................................................................... 33

Table 2 Databases........................................................................................................................ 46

Table 3 Digital Boundary Files .................................................................................................... 50

Table 4 Web Sites of Interest...................................................................................................... 62

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Executive Summary

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) was formed in 1972. It is composed of the 18 incorporated cities and county government, and it serves as the forum for regional decision making. SANDAG builds consensus, makes strategic plans, obtains and allocates resources, designs and builds transit projects, and provides information on a broad range of topics pertinent to the region’s quality of life. SANDAG is governed by a Board of Directors, composed of mayors, council members, and a county supervisor from each of the region’s 19 local governments. Supplementing these members are advisory representatives from Imperial County, Caltrans, Metropolitan Transit System, North San Diego County Transit Development Board, the U.S. Department of Defense, San Diego County Water Authority, and Baja California/Mexico. The staff is composed of professional planners, engineers, and research specialists.

REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

The Regional Information System (RIS) is a valuable resource resulting from the work and responsibilities described above. It is a fully integrated system of data, computer hardware and software to process data, and staff that performs data processing and analysis. This system was created as a necessary tool to accomplish specific tasks and projects over the years. SANDAG strives to be a leader in its field, and continually explores new data and technology to process and present information more efficiently and accurately.

This report is a summary of the Regional Information System, which is a valuable tool for both the public and private sectors. The report is composed of five major sections that are listed below.

Introduction

The Introduction is a brief description of SANDAG and the Regional Information System (RIS). It explains the history of SANDAG, as well as its responsibilities and initiatives. It also touches upon the RIS and how it is presented in this document.

Applications: Utilizing the Regional Information System (Sample Studies)

This section focuses on the uses of the RIS. Specific applications are described, including defining and profiling service/market areas, public facility location analysis, evaluating the need for additional facilities, general plan capacity analysis, and the development of customized geographic information systems (GIS) applications. Actual examples are provided to help the reader gain a full understanding of RIS uses.

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RIS Components: Hardware and Software

This section details the computer hardware and software used at SANDAG. It includes information about the computer hardware and operating systems used to operate and maintain the RIS. It also describes the different application software used to process, display, and report information.

RIS Components: Data and Geographic Information

The focus of this section is the second RIS component: data and geographic information. It features the different information used to analyze and create data and reports. It details the region’s geographic areas, the various databases maintained, and the digital boundary files and layers used to map and analyze information.

Accessing the RIS through the Internet

The final chapter is about the SANDAG Web site. It is an overview of the information and tools available on the Web site, such as publications, interactive mapping, and data. It also includes a table of related Web sites.

INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTION

HISTORY OF SANDAG

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) was formed in 1972 to build consensus, make strategic plans, obtain and allocate resources, design and build transit projects, and provide information on a broad range of topics pertinent to the region’s quality of life. Since its inception it has functioned as the regional planning and technical resource agency. A new state law (SB 1703) consolidated all the current roles and responsibilities with many of the transit functions of the Metropolitan Transit Development Board and the North San Diego County Development Board beginning on January 1, 2003. This consolidation allows SANDAG to assume transit planning, funding allocation, project development, and construction, along with its original obligations.

SANDAG is governed by a Board of Directors, composed of mayors, council members, and a county supervisor from each of the region’s 19 local governments. Voting is based on membership and the population of each jurisdiction, providing for an accountable and equitable representation of the region’s residents. Supplementing these voting members are advisory representatives from Imperial County, Caltrans, Metropolitan Transit System, North San Diego County Transit Development Board, the U.S. Department of Defense, San Diego County Water Authority, and Baja California/Mexico. A professional workforce of planners, engineers, and research specialists make up SANDAG’s staff.

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SANDAG RESPONSIBILITIES AND INITIATIVES

SANDAG serves in a variety of capacities as required by local, state, and federal mandates to direct the regional planning process. As mentioned above, the recent consolidation also directs SANDAG to assume transit funding allocation, project development, and construction, along with its regional planning role. The agency also provides informational and technical assistance to its members and the community in many areas, such as demographic and economic analysis, transportation studies, survey design and analysis, criminal justice studies, public facilities location and management analysis, housing need analysis, environmental planning, along with other types of studies.

SANDAG Board and Policy Committee meetings serve as a forum for public input into the regional decision making process. These meetings focus on significant regional responsibilities, such as growth, transportation, environmental management, housing, open space, air quality, energy, fiscal management, economic plans, allocated transportation funds, and the development of programs. By intertwining these responsibilities, a more streamlined, comprehensive, and coordinated approach to planning for the region’s future is created without costly new government offices. Citizens, as well as representatives from community, civic, environmental, education, business, and other special interest groups, along with other agencies, are involved in the planning and approval process by participating in committees, workshops, and public hearings.

In addition, SANDAG, since 1982, has operated SourcePoint, a nonprofit corporation that offers specialized information services and analyses to private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other non-member agencies. The nonprofit corporation’s services include growth projections, market studies, fiscal and transportation analyses, demographic profiles, and other studies. SourcePoint is managed by its own Board of Directors, which is composed of three locally elected officials and two business leaders.

Current Major Initiatives

• Regional Transportation Plan (RTP): The RTP is known as Mobility 2030, which operates as the

region’s blueprint for a transportation system that enhances our quality of life and meets our mobility needs now and into the future.

• Regional Comprehensive Plan (RCP): The RCP serves as the foundation for integrating land uses, transportation systems, infrastructure needs, and public investment strategies for the San Diego region.

• TransNet Extension: SANDAG administers this major public works program, which has generated nearly $2 billion for the region with another $1.3 billion to be collected and used to fund transportation improvements through 2008. The TransNet sales tax expires in 2008. Members of the regional community are currently collaborating to determine the best options for extending the sales tax.

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REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (RIS)

The Regional Information System (RIS) is a fully integrated system of data, computer hardware and software (to process data), along with the staff (to perform data processing and analysis). Specific tasks and projects are accomplished from the data and technical expertise that are the focus of this report. Many of these resulting databases are continually updated and maintained. SANDAG has consistently been at the forefront of technological advances so that processing and presenting information can be done more efficiently and accurately.

RIS Availability

The RIS is a regional resource available to anyone who has a need for the information and services provided by SANDAG. This includes, but is not limited to, agency members, elected officials, professionals, students, and the public. Requests are usually processed through SANDAG’s Public Information Officer via in-person visits, telephone, mail, and e-mail.

Projects that require detailed analysis or custom maps are handled by staff with expertise in the particular area of interest. Requests for information and assistance from our member agencies are accommodated through the Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program. The Assistance to Transit Operations and Planning (ATOP) program assists in the requests from the region’s transit agencies. SourcePoint is the data and technical resource for non-member public agencies, private sector, and general public. All of these programs can be accessed by contacting SANDAG’s Public Information Office.

The RIS is also accessible through the Internet. Information can be obtained by visiting SANDAG’s Web site at www.sandag.org. Many of the agency’s publications are available there, as well as other regional data.

RIS Applications

Many regional issues and data analysis needs can be addressed using the RIS. The Applications section of this overview, which follows this introduction, will describe typical uses for the RIS. The following examples are featured in the next section. Please note that the RIS often performs these applications, but is not limited to them.

• Defining and Profiling Service/Market Areas • Public Facility Location Analysis • Land Use/Transportation Demand Forecasting • Defining Transportation Improvement Assessment Areas • General Plan Capacity Analysis • Economic Analysis, Fiscal Impact Analysis, and Market Feasibility Studies • Survey Design and Analysis • Criminal Justice Analysis • Desktop Geographic Information System (GIS) Application Development

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RIS Overview Report Components

As stated earlier, the RIS in composed of data, computer hardware and software, and expertise staff. These three distinct parts work hand in hand to support the RIS. This report will touch upon the different tools used in conjunction with these parts. The data and computer hardware/software components will each be described in individual chapters. The section entitled “Accessing RIS through the Internet” will further describe how to retrieve data and materials, along with how to create maps through the SANDAG Web site.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please contact our Public Information Specialist for additional assistance regarding this overview or other information. The Public Information Office (PIO) is designed to provide easy access to all agency reports and information. It usually responds to 20 to 30 requests each day. A request for data or RIS product may be forwarded to the appropriate staff member if additional information is needed after speaking with the PIO. The PIO can be contacted at SANDAG via telephone at (619) 699-1900 or email at pio@sandag.org for more information.

APPLICATIONS: UTILIZING THE REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

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APPLICATIONS: UTILIZING THE REGIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

The Regional Information System (RIS) is used for many local and regional planning projects. Examples listed throughout this section describe real world applications of the RIS. The applications used in the following instances are specific to the sample case, but may be applied to a broader usage for similar studies.

DEFINING AND PROFILING SERVICE/MARKET AREAS

The Regional Information System is often used to compile data for specific geographic areas for individual case studies. These user-defined areas can be designated in several ways: as a pre-determined service area (such as a school district), a group of standard areas (such as ZIP code areas), or as a specified travel time/ distance from a given site. The majority of SANDAG’s demographic and economic data is available for very small geographic areas called Master Geographic Reference Areas (MGRAs), which can generally be described as census blocks or split census blocks. It is relatively easy to determine which MGRAs fall within the boundaries of the designated study area, and to aggregate the associated information to produce maps and demographic/economic profiles of the area.

User defined areas are created in several different ways. A pre-determined service area boundary may already be available in a digital format or it can be put into a computer-readable format (digitized). Similarly, a boundary can be created from a group of standard areas. Study areas defined by travel time/distance use the regional transportation network to determine areas that can be reached within the specified time or distance, and geographic information system (GIS) tools are used to establish the MGRAs within that area. (This system allows for the use of peak or off-peak travel times and for travel times or distance to be determined based on existing or future streets and roads.) The appropriate data (census, demographic characteristics estimates, population/housing forecast, etc.) for those MGRAs is then aggregated and the desired profiles or datasets are produced for the study area.

Sample Studies

• City of San Diego Library Service Area Study: Service areas of the City’s 36 branch libraries were determined using groups of Census 2000 census tracts. Census 2000 profiles were produced for each library branch service area. The City used information, such as age and language spoken at home, to evaluate needed changes in library services provided by existing sites. Total population, along with the number of households and housing stock helped

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determine the need for new branches, as well as for grant proposals and public outreach. A map was prepared that displayed branch locations, service areas, and a table showing population by service area.

• City of La Mesa PARKS Project: The PARKS Project was created in response to a community need to increase the size, usable area, hours, and specially designed facilities for La Mesita and Briercrest Parks, along with the athletic fields of Parkway Middle School. Census data was produced for a two mile radius of La Mesita and Briercrest Parks. It was used for grant proposals and public outreach materials about the PARKS Project. The information helped determine the area youth population and income levels requested by many grant sponsors.

• City of Escondido Local Business Support: The City of Escondido assisted several business attraction and retention projects by identifying potential sites to business leaders and providing site-specific information about the area’s characteristics. Demographic and economic data, compiled from the Census and SANDAG estimates, were used to analyze several business sites and provide insight into the immediate area's population and housing characteristics. Information such as median income, average household size, and median age was used to determine a site's viability and answer questions regarding the current market and future growth. The distance around an analysis site varied, depending on the business’ research, product, or service. However, one, three, and five mile radii were typically used for comparison and consistency purposes.

PUBLIC FACILITY LOCATION ANALYSIS

The location and capacity of public facilities are among the most critical decisions made by planners and elected officials. Decisions based on inaccurate or incomplete information can be very costly in terms of money, time, and public safety. SANDAG’s Public Facilities Models are used to evaluate alternative configurations of facilities based on travel and response times, service areas, capacities, and location. This analysis relies on the use of the computerized regional transportation network, which has freeways, arterials, and local roads, as well as their associated peak and off-peak travel speeds. The most common types of public facility analysis involve schools and fire services. Other analyses have been performed for police services, hospitals, libraries, airports, landfills, and emergency medical services.

Sample Studies

• City of San Diego Fire Department Training Location Study: The closure of the Naval Training Center (NTC) near Lindbergh Field caused a need for evaluations of several scenarios for potential new uses for the facility. A study was conducted by the San Diego Fire Department, which considered moving training functions from six battalion stations to one centralized location at NTC. SANDAG provided the average travel time and distance from each fire station to the six battalion stations and NTC to help the City evaluate which configuration would be most efficient.

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• County of San Diego Juvenile Hall Location Study: Population profiles and maps were prepared for County staff to help evaluate the need for and the best location of a new Juvenile Hall facility. Tabular data indicated the number of juveniles living within specified distances from the existing and proposed facilities. Information regarding the travel time to each facility from the region’s police and sheriff stations was developed; and maps were produced that showed the locations of the existing and proposed Juvenile Halls, each police/sheriff station, and which stations could reach one or both facilities within a 20 minute drive time.

LAND USE/TRANSPORTATION DEMAND FORECASTING

SANDAG’s transportation model provides a useful tool for both regional and local agency applications. The computer model covers the entire San Diego region and uses the latest adopted circulation elements and land use plans for each local jurisdiction. The transportation impacts of proposed land use developments or changes to the street, highway, or transit network can be simulated using these extensive databases and transportation planning software.

Projects can be tested using an existing or future scenario. Under existing conditions, a project-only forecast would add just the new trips from a project to the existing network. The travel patterns can be easily shown on a computer-generated plot of the street network. Similarly, a transportation link can be added, modified, or deleted from the existing network to check its impact on the system. Future year forecasts can assess cumulative conditions where the proposed project is added to the expected growth and network improvements for any year up to the full development capacity of the general plan(s) in the area.

The travel forecast models are based on extensive surveys regarding travel behavior in the region and the amount of travel generated by different land uses (offices, residential areas, retail centers, etc.). Another important input to the transportation model is SANDAG’s 30-year Regional Growth Forecast, which is updated approximately every four to five years to reflect changing general plans and economic trends. Confidence in transportation projections is achieved by first calibrating the model to replicate existing conditions.

Sample Studies

• Combined North County Model: Until recently, four local agencies in the North County area had subarea transportation models for their jurisdictions. These models were completely independent from each other and provided conflicting results along the fringes of each city. The Cities of Carlsbad and Oceanside approached SANDAG, through the Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, in late 2002 to update their transportation models to the 2030 forecast. Additionally, the transportation models from the Cities of Vista and San Marcos joined to the project; and thus the Four-City Combined North County Model was born.

The product of this combination is one large subarea model instead of four independent and conflicting subarea transportation models. The model will serve as a base for the travel demand forecasting needs. Since the modeling base for all four cities will be the same, projected change in traffic volumes for similar projects should not vary drastically from city to city. The resulting

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model will allow each city to continue with their independent transportation and development analysis, while remaining consistent with the traffic patterns of their neighbors.

• University Town Center: Three clients approached SourcePoint for transportation modeling services in the University Town Center (UTC) area. The University of California at San Diego (UCSD) was one of the clients, while the other two were private developers in the same area. Westfield Corporation, owner of the UTC mall, had extensive plans for the current site’s expansion. The property owner of La Jolla Centre, an office tower located along La Jolla Village Drive, was the third client.

These three clients collaborated on data exchange and shared project costs for transportation modeling services. UCSD provided detailed information about where and when future campus expansion will occur and the distribution of their faculty and students. The UTC mall has plans to double the size of retail space, along with adding offices, a hotel, and a residential high rise. Westfield was required to do extensive analysis and mitigation of their proposed project, since these plans exceed the existing community plan. The La Jolla Centre would like to add a second office tower, which also exceeds the current community plan.

These three “land use” plans were tested throughout the forecast period with and without the two main transportation projects in the area: the widening of Genesee Avenue and the extension of the Regents Road Bridge. The results of this subarea transportation modeling effort have been put online via an interactive mapping application in lieu of producing hard copy maps. Having the traffic forecast results available at a non-public site on the Internet facilitated data exchange and produced positive feedback from all three clients.

Defining Transportation Improvement Assessment Areas

The construction of a public improvement project provides benefits to a specific area. SANDAG’s regional transportation model can assist in determining the boundaries of assessment areas where residents and/or businesses share the cost of the facility. Existing and/or future traffic patterns from the model can be used to identify the origins and destinations of trips on each road link. The proportion of trip ends using the link can be calculated for each traffic zone (small transportation planning areas) in the model. After selecting a threshold percentage for usage of the selected link, any zone meeting the criteria would then be included in the assessment area.

A similar analysis is the distribution of trips to and from a selected area or project. The impacts on the surrounding street and highway networks of a land use project of any size can be quantified. Projects can be analyzed individually or together for their cumulative impact. Cost recovery for improvements can then be assessed to the new development.

GENERAL/COMMUNITY PLAN ANALYSIS

SANDAG maintains a computer-readable file of each jurisdiction’s general and community plans, as well as existing land use and ownership information, as part of the Regional Growth Forecasting process. While this information is an important component of the forecast, it also is used in many

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other regional and local planning studies. For example, using a computer overlay process to combine planned land use information with existing land use provides information about vacant land and the type of development that could take place there given current policy.

The most straightforward analysis of a jurisdiction’s general plan (or, in the case of the City of San Diego and the County of San Diego, community plans) involve tabulating the number of acres in each plan category. GIS tools can be used to combine like categories and produce a generalized version of the plan in tabular and map form.

Another type of plan analysis is evaluating the residential development capacity of different general/community plan alternatives. The impacts of different configurations of planned land use and/or proposed changes in residential density ranges in the existing configuration can be tested with tools like transportation models. Transportation models are used to quantify the traffic impacts (and therefore the required changes to the transportation system) of new or different types of development.

Sample Studies

• Local Jurisdiction Review: Existing and planned land use maps were prepared for local jurisdiction review for the 2030 Regional Growth Forecast. We requested comments and approval of developable land and activity capacity assumptions from each agency to improve the accuracy and reliability of the forecast. Planners reviewed the maps and provided additional information about proposed developments.

• County of San Diego GP2020: The County of San Diego needed information from the 2030 Regional Growth Forecast for its General Plan 2020 revision. The County was provided with developable land and activity capacity assumptions, along with estimates of existing housing stock by small geographic areas. It used this data as part of its analysis for the General Plan 2020 revision.

• City of San Diego: During the data preparation phase of the 2030 Regional Growth Forecast, SANDAG worked closely with the City of San Diego to ensure that our interpretation of their Community Planning Areas’ general plans coincided with the City’s interpretation. This resulted in a detailed review of the current and planned land uses within each Community Planning Area.

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS AND MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDIES

Public and private organizations often need to evaluate the economic and/or fiscal impacts of proposed development or changes in plans for future development. Many organizations have requested SANDAG’s assistance in analyzing various land use alternatives to determine the associated economic impacts of each scenario. The scope of an economic impact analysis can be far-reaching by identifying impacts on many dimensions of the economy: retail expenditures, the increase in support business to accommodate projected development, and the increase in activity

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associated with the rise in consumer demand. An economic impact analysis can also be more focused by identifying the changes in economic opportunity and income status among the region’s households as a result of changes in factors such as land use.

A fiscal impact analysis determines the impacts of different scenarios on an agency’s budget. It is not used to determine economic impacts and benefits to the area’s resident population. An economic impact analysis, on the other hand, can provide input about both the benefits to city residents and the fiscal health of the city; since the fiscal health of a city has a direct relationship to the income and wealth of its residents. Market feasibility studies are performed to evaluate the economic “fit” of a proposed facility, service, or product. These studies also are conducted to determine how to improve the economic performance of an existing facility given the demographic and economic condition of its service area.

Sample Studies

• Site Location/Employment Base Analysis: Maps were created to examine business site alternatives. The requesting agency identified four characteristics (median household income, percent of population with Bachelor’s degree, ability to speak English, and housing value) that are representative of their average employee. The final map combined these four characteristics to highlight areas with concentrations of one, two, three, or all four criteria. Areas meeting all four criteria were used to target preferred site alternatives.

• Proposed Rancho del Oro Rezone, City of Oceanside: The City of Oceanside received proposals to rezone light industrial land to residential use. SANDAG was asked to analyze the two land use alternatives and determine the economic impacts on the city. Since the best single determinant of a city’s fiscal and economic well-being is household income, much of the analysis focused on evaluating whether greater income gains would be realized with residential development or industrial development in the study area. SANDAG’s Regional Growth Forecast was used as a basis for determining the development potential for each alternative. Other information was evaluated, such as the effects of more or fewer jobs in the area versus more or fewer residential units and the proportion of the industrial development’s employees that would live in the city. It was determined that industrial development would be of greater economic value to the city and its residents than residential use upon full development of the project site.

SURVEY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS

A lot of information is readily available about the region’s population. However, there are times when information that is specific to a certain group is required. Surveys are a good way to collect timely information about the attitudes and opinions of the population. There are four primary types of survey methodologies: mail-out, mail-back, telephone, personal interviews, and focus groups. Personal interviews and focus groups are useful for studies where the main purpose is to explore different ideas and reasons for a particular opinion (such as what people like or dislike about a marketing campaign). Mail-out, mail-back and telephone surveys are often used at

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SANDAG, because, if properly conducted, the results of these surveys can be used to evaluate the attitudes and opinions of a large population about a variety of topics.

SANDAG can assist in all parts of survey design and analysis, including determining the most appropriate methodology and sampling design, developing the survey questions, graphically laying out and printing the questionnaire, implementing procedures to maximize the rate of response, and processing, tabulating, and analyzing the results. Mail-out, mail-back surveys are generally done in-house. Since SANDAG does not have the facilities or trained staff to conduct telephone surveys, the data collection portion of those studies is typically contracted out to a qualified research firm.

Sample Studies

• County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Foster Parent Satisfaction Survey: The purpose of this survey was to give foster parents the opportunity to provide feedback on issues and concerns that are important for the care of children in foster homes, and to evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs to meet those needs. A mail-out, mail-back survey was distributed to foster parents throughout the county. The data was collected by SANDAG and given to Health and Human Services for further analysis of the results.

• Survey of Eastern Chula Vista Residents Regarding Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Options: The purpose of this survey was to determine the east-west travel patterns of eastern Chula Vista residents, their receptiveness to TDM measures, and determine priorities for TDM design features. Approximately 400 eastern Chula Vista residents participated in this telephone survey, and recommendations for a TDM program were based on the survey responses.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS

SANDAG’s Criminal Justice Research Division conducts comprehensive research related to criminal justice issues, programs, and strategies. Historic and current crime data, along with justice related information from the region’s local law enforcement agencies, are collected and maintained. Examples of the data collected include: statistical data (such as crimes and clearance rates by type of offense), characteristics of crimes, drug use among arrestees, and victim and offender characteristics.

Sample Studies

• Violence Against Women in San Diego: SANDAG, with assistance from the National Institute of Justice and the California State Legislature, conducted research to increase awareness of domestic violence issues by evaluating information collected from emergency shelters for battered women in San Diego County. Information regarding the characteristics of the clients, the batterers, and the incidents were collected.

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• Crime in the San Diego Region Reports: The Criminal Justice Research Division prepares biannual reports on crime in the San Diego region. The reports are a product of the Regional Criminal Justice Clearinghouse project funded by SANDAG member agencies. The Clearinghouse project includes the compilation, analysis, and dissemination of crime and justice information, which is used to support regional planning and inform the public.

DESKTOP GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

Geographic data is commonly used by local agencies to support planning decisions. The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for analyzing and displaying spatial data is becoming more and more common. The advent of desktop versions of this technology has put this valuable tool into the hands of people who are not necessarily GIS professionals. Several custom ArcView (ESRI’s desktop GIS) applications have been developed by SANDAG staff for member agencies and transit operators.

Sample Study

• HabiTrak: As part of the Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) implementation in the San Diego region, SANDAG led the effort to develop a GIS-based habitat tracking and reporting application (HabiTrak). HabiTrak, an ArcView 3.3 application, was developed cooperatively by the wildlife agencies, local jurisdictions, special districts, and SANDAG to meet the annual reporting requirements of the wildlife agencies (U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game). HabiTrak is used to determine if habitat loss is occurring in rough proportionality to development; to ensure that the habitat preserve is being assembled in accordance with the implementing agreements; and to make certain that habitat conservation goals are being achieved. HabiTrak is a user-friendly stand-alone application that is used by GIS and non-GIS professionals. HabiTrak produces standardized reports, maps, and digital databases for annual submittal to wildlife agencies.

INTERACTIVE MAPPING

Interactive mapping is a relatively new tool that lets the user map information to their specifications. SANDAG has developed several interactive mapping tools that increase the accessibility and usefulness of some of our most popular databases.

• Geographic Boundary Viewer: This interactive mapping application allows users to simultaneously view different boundary layers. It displays political boundaries, geographic areas (including census tracts, community planning areas, and ZIP codes), roads, and physical features, such as rivers and lagoons. Basic information about each area also can be displayed, such as names and acreage.

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• Regional Economic Development Information System (REDI): SANDAG developed REDI in cooperation with SanGIS. REDI is a Web-based Internet application intended to assist industrial land developers, economic development analysts, small business owners, community planners, and others in exploring land development opportunities. REDI helps a user visualize the relationships between existing land use, vacant land, traffic volumes, and other criteria needed in determining development potential. Demographic and economic profiles for radii from specified sites also can be produced using REDI.

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• Demographic and Economic Mapping System: Six types of geographic areas (jurisdictions,

major statistical areas, subregional areas, census tracts, community plan areas and zip codes) and over two hundred census, current estimates, and forecast variables are available for mapping. Users can add map features, such as roads and jurisdiction names, select the number of intervals (categories) to be mapped, and zoom in and out.

• San Diego/Tijuana Atlas: The San Diego/Tijuana Atlas provides demographic and housing characteristics for both sides of the border by using information from censuses that were conducted in 2000 by both the United States and Mexican governments. This application was originally developed after the 1990 Census by SANDAG and San Diego Dialogue (University of California, San Diego). The areas portrayed on the maps are census tracts in the United States and basic geo-statistical areas (áreas geostadísticas básicas) in Mexico. The interactive atlas has full zoom and pan capabilities. The road network, legend, and map labels also can be displayed.

• Transportation Forecast Information Center (TFIC): SANDAG developed TFIC in response to the heavy demand for our traffic forecast data. It enables SANDAG Web site visitors to quickly access forecasted average weekday traffic volumes for freeways, freeway ramps, and major roads. Individual roadway segments can be selected to obtain additional information, including street name, type of roadway, number of lanes, and posted speed. Recent enhancements include trip generation and land use forecasts for small geographic areas.

• Employment Clusters: Historically, employment and industries have been categorized using the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. New industries like biotechnology and communications do not fit the classic industry definitions. Cluster analysis is a way of examining groups of inter-related industries that drive the region’s economic well-being. The Industrial

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Clusters interactive mapping tool was developed by SANDAG and the San Diego Regional Technology Alliance (SDRTA) to aid planners and decision makers, as well as the general public, in identifying where firms that comprise Industrial Clusters are located within the San Diego region. A new classification system, the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS), has been developed and is currently being implemented. NAICS, developed largely as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), more accurately depicts industrial classification and promotes categorical consistency in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Industrial clusters will soon be updated to use NAICS rather than SIC codes.

RIS COMPONENTS: HARDWARE & SOFTWARE

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RIS COMPONENTS: HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

As mentioned in the introduction to this overview, the RIS is composed of staff that uses both data and computer hardware/software to effectively serve regional information needs. This section outlines the computer hardware and software systems used at SANDAG. Table 1 on page 31 provides a comprehensive list and description of the software used at SANDAG.

COMPUTER HARDWARE AND OPERATING SYSTEMS

SANDAG uses PCs and Unix workstations to perform data processing, geographic information system (GIS) functions, and computer modeling. Three InkJet plotters serve the Unix workstations to produce color maps and plots. More than 100 PCs are connected via local area network (LAN) to Windows 2000 servers.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Data processing and GIS functions at SANDAG are performed either on the Unix platform or on PCs depending on the project and specific application. For this reason, SANDAG has software for a given function (such as statistical analysis or database management) that operates on each system. Most PC-based application software used at SANDAG falls into the Microsoft suite of packages, including MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Analytical Tools

• SPSS: SPSS for Windows (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is statistical analysis software used to compile, analyze, and tabulate data. It can perform simple tabulations (such as frequency distributions and crosstabulations of variables) or more complex statistical procedures (such as regression analysis). Analyzing survey results and special Census 2000 tabulations are the most frequent uses of statistical analysis software at SANDAG.

• Excel: Microsoft Excel is analysis software used to compile, formulate, and tabulate data. SANDAG staff commonly use Excel to create tables and charts for numerous reports, as well as utilize the more complex functions for querying and processing data. This popular desktop software is part of the Microsoft Office Suite.

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Database Managers

• Access: Microsoft Access is a desktop relational database manager, which is included in the Microsoft Office suite. Access is used for a number of projects at SANDAG, such as TransNet program management (a half-cent sales tax used to fund a variety of transportation projects throughout the region), TDA allocations and payments (a funding source for the region's public transit operators and non-motorized transportation projects), and Criminal Justice statistical processing.

• Open Ingres: Open Ingres is a large-scale, client-server, relational database management system based on the Structured Query Language (SQL). SANDAG is currently phasing-out Open Ingres, and it is expected to be completely replaced by SQL Server 2000 by October 2004.

• SQL Server 2000: SQL Server 2000 is SANDAG’s enterprise database management system. It is a large scale client-server relational database management system based on Structured Query Language. It provides standard capabilities like basic data maintenance, querying, and reporting.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

SANDAG uses a variety of GIS software to create, manage, analyze, and display geographic information. ArcGIS, one of the most utilized programs, has a modular design that can integrate many types of data and customize application specific user interfaces. It is structured to accommodate several relational database management systems and can operate on many types of computers with a variety of graphics hardware. ArcGIS operates on the Windows platform at SANDAG. A project is currently underway to convert SANDAG’s GIS data to a relational database management system (RDBMS), and improve integration of GIS applications with enterprise systems and databases.

Geographic information (basically anything that can be located on a map with associated tabular data) can be put into computer readable format or digitized using ArcGIS or ArcInfo. Address-based information, such as transit passenger origin and destination, crime locations, and dwelling unit completions, is incorporated into GIS applications by automatically geocoding x-y coordinate locations through the process of address matching. This information can then be edited and analyzed using overlay and summary statistics procedures. Features such as points, lines, areas, and map annotation can be moved, copied, added, deleted, or reshaped. The mapping component of the software allows features from any number of layers (such as roads, major employment sites, or administrative boundaries) to be combined and displayed on one map.

Graphics

The Graphics Department at SANDAG uses PC-based page layout, drawing, presentation, and image editing application software. Hardware peripherals include a high resolution laser printer, a color scanner, and access to an E-size InkJet plotter.

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InDesign (page layout software) is used to produce newsletters, brochures, flyers, and direct mail pieces. Images (photos, logos, drawings), charts, and text are all imported into PageMaker from other software.

InDesign and Adobe Illustrator are used to produce charts, maps, drawings, and logos. PowerPoint is used to create on-screen presentations, overheads, and 35mm slides.

Adobe Photoshop is used to edit and adjust photos, as well as edit images that will be used in other software (such as web pages). Adobe’s GoLive is used to design Web pages.

Internet Tools

• Explorer (Web browser)

• MS Outlook (email application)

• MapObjects: MapObjects, an ESRI product, is a development tool used by SANDAG programmers to create custom mapping applications for both desktop and Internet use.

• ArcIMS: Several of SANDAG’s interactive analyzing applications were developed with ArcIMS by ESRI.

Programming Languages

• Arc Macro Language (AML): A high-level algorithmic language for generating end-user applications and automating GIS procedures. Features include the ability to create on-screen menus, use and assign variables, control statement execution, and obtain and utilize map or page unit coordinates. AML includes an extensive set of commands that can be used interactively or in AML programs (macros), as well as commands that report on the status of ArcInfo environment settings.

• C: A structured third-generation programming language developed by Bell Labs during the 1970s. C was the language of choice for most serious software development until the advent of PC-based integrated programming environments. C is used for large economic/demographic modeling applications at SANDAG because of its speed and power.

• C++: It is a superset of C that implements the principal aspects of Object-Oriented Programming. Most C++ implementations are considered fourth-generation languages and include an integrated programming environment that has a program editor, a debugger, and a compiler and linker that offer some degree of configuration management and version control for application development.

• C#: C# is a new programming language implemented by Microsoft under the .NET developmental framework. A combination of C, C++, and Java, C# is an object oriented language that takes advantage of the .NET features. C# is being used at SANDAG to recode all of the UNIX-based C programs to PC applications. These applications include the demographic

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and economic characteristics applications (CONCEP) and the urban developmental model (UDM).

• FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation): A third-generation programming language that is used primarily for scientific applications or algorithms requiring complex mathematical computations. Although widely replaced by more powerful and user-friendly languages, FORTRAN is still used at SANDAG for large-scale transportation modeling applications.

• SQL: Structured Query Language is a set of database maintenance standards, and a programming language designed strictly for database maintenance and querying. SQL-based relational database management systems, such as Open Ingres, are based on SQL standards and code. Other database management tools (such as Microsoft Access), although not strictly SQL applications, have utilities that permit SQL-compliant applications to function normally.

• Visual Basic: A fourth-generation object-oriented programming language that permits rapid prototyping of applications, and it is built around reusing organized code modules (objects). Visual Basic is a powerful tool for developing applications with extensive user interfaces (screens, windows, displays, buttons, etc.).

Computer Models

• RidePro: The COMSIS Rideshare Information System (Ridepro) is SANDAG’s rideshare matching system. Commuters who live and work in the same area and have similar work hours are matched together for carpools or vanpools upon request. RidePro also provides commuters with transit routes matched to their commute and locations of nearby park and ride lots.

• Demographic and Economic Characteristics Estimates: Models are used to produce annual estimates of demographic characteristics for the region, as well as very small geographic areas (blocks) within the region. The Consolidated Characteristics Estimates Program (CONCEP) replaces several older SANDAG programs and combines them under one PC interface. These include the population and housing estimates program (POPEST), the demographic characteristics model (PASEE), and the income estimates model (ESTINC). POPEST produces annual estimates of population and housing for small geographic areas using the State of California Department of Finance (DOF) jurisdiction and regional estimates as control totals. PASEE estimates population by age, gender, and ethnicity for small geographic areas by using birth, death, and migration data, along with a cohort-component method to estimate demographic characteristics from a 2000 base year census starting point. In ESTINC, median household income and income group distribution estimates are based on state income tax return data. Estimates of the number of households within various income ranges are based on a mathematical model that represents the shape of the household income distribution.

• Habitat Evaluation Model (HEM): This is a raster-based (pixel or cell-based) set of models used in habitat conservation planning to evaluate the region’s remaining natural areas. Each cell contains biological and other environmental data necessary for modeling and analysis. There are four components to the HEM. The first is the California Gnatcatcher Habitat Evaluation Model. This model evaluates habitat quality parameters of coastal sage scrub vegetation, which is the habitat of the California gnatcatcher. The second model is the Habitat

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Value Index, which evaluates general habitat quality criteria for all habitat types. The third component is the High Priority Target Species and Vernal Pool Habitat Model, which uses information about the presence or absence of federal and state listed species, vernal pools, and golden eagle nest sites (an indicator of habitat stability) to evaluate habitats. The Potential Wildlife Corridor Analysis Model uses all riparian vegetation types as preliminary indicators of potential wildlife corridors. The results of all four modeling efforts were combined to yield composite habitat values of the remaining natural areas of the region.

• Public Facilities Management: This set of models is used to analyze the location and capacity of public facilities, such as schools, fire stations, and landfills. The models use digital street network files in combination with current and forecast population, housing, land use, and employment data to determine service areas and capacities within a specified distance or travel time. The models can be tailored to specific projects by modifying travel speeds on each functional class of the street networks (freeways, major arterials, local roads) depending on the type of studied vehicle. For example, fire trucks would typically move at a slower speed than police vehicles. The Public Facilities Management Models provide a cost-effective way to examine several alternative configurations of facilities in a short period of time.

• Regional Growth Forecast: The Regional Growth Forecasting process is a two-phase effort that uses several different computer models. The first phase of the process produces a forecast for the entire San Diego region. This regionwide forecast is based on a synthesis of two forecasting techniques: the cohort-component method for population and econometric methods for the economic factors. The two techniques are linked directly through an equation that relates migration to job creation, home prices, unemployment rates, and shifts in the nation’s and region's age structure. A simultaneous solution method reconciles the complex relationships among population, income, employment, and other economic factors. This regionwide tool is called the Demographic and Economic Forecasting Model (DEFM).

The second phase uses allocation algorithms to distribute the regional forecast to subareas within the region. This allocation is based on attractions and constraints provided by existing and planned land use policies, which reflect the general and community plans of the region’s 19 jurisdictions. Transportation networks, travel times, and the distribution of population and economic activities also are taken into account when determining the location and timing of future growth within the region. The allocation of development activity to small geographic areas is determined by two primary factors: the availability of appropriate land for that activity and the spatial relationships between residential and non-residential activities. This process evaluates future growth based on different land use and transportation assumptions. This second phase of the forecasting process uses SANDAG’s Urban Development Model (UDM).

• Transportation Models: These models assist in regional and subregional planning of street, highway, and transit facilities. A series of individual functions, including trip generation, trip distribution, mode split, and network assignment are used to create current and projected person, vehicle, and transit trips based on existing and future land uses, demographic trends, and planned transportation improvements. TransCAD is a commercial software package used to execute the transportation models. The Travel Behavior Survey and Onboard Transit Survey are the primary data sources for developing the models. Existing and future land use patterns are obtained as part of the Regional Growth Forecast process. TransCAD is used by several local agencies and SANDAG to evaluate the traffic impacts of proposed development and improvements to the region’s

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highway and transit systems. The model is also used to analyze person or transit trip movements between study areas. SANDAG has integrated TransCAD with its GIS (ArcInfo). The GIS is used to prepare inputs for TransCAD and to display and analyze the outputs.

TRANSFERRING DIGITAL DATA

Historically, computer systems have been fairly rigid in terms of the way information was produced, stored, and accessed. They were designed with the assumption that the information would not be “going” anywhere, and would not need to be accessed or processed by other systems. Recent years have brought about technological advances, along with a greater understanding of the benefits of open systems and data sharing. This has resulted in the design of systems that are much more flexible in the way data can be formatted and accessed. Often, it is virtually transparent to the user that the information they are using on their computer system or software package resides on or was produced on an entirely different system.

SANDAG's File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server allows for the transfer of vast amounts of data over the Internet quickly and efficiently. SANDAG staff can use the FTP server to make data available for member agencies or the general public, while eliminating the need for putting data on a CD or diskette and mailing it out to the requester.

The following describes the various media on which SANDAG can receive and distribute digital data: Platform Media Unix DC 6150 ¼" data cartridge tape (in tape archiving [tar] format) 8mm cassette (tar format) 4mm cassette (tar format) 3½" diskette (tar format) CD ROM FTP PCs 3½" diskette CD ROM Zipdisk Ditto Tape DVD InternetEmail attachment (MIME) FTP

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Table 1 Application Software

Application Platform Description

Analytical Tools

Excel PC Spreadsheet package

SPSS for Windows PC Statistical processing

Database Managers

Access PC Database manager

Open Ingres Unix Database manager

SQL Server PC Database manager

Geographic Information System

ArcGIS PC Geographic information system

ArcInfo Unix Geographic information system

ArcView Unix/PC Desktop geographic information system

Graphics

Adobe Illustrator PC Illustration design

Adobe GoLive PC Web page design

Adobe Photoshop PC Image editing

InDesign PC Page layout

PageMaker PC Publication design/page layout

PowerPoint PC Presentation design

Internet Tools

ArcIMS Unix/PC Interactive Internet mapping applications

Internet Explorer PC World Wide Web (WWW) browser

MapObjects PC Custom Internet mapping applications

MS Outlook PC Internet Email

Operating Systems

Solaris (Unix) Unix Unix operating system

Windows 2000 PC Microsoft’s 32-bit operating system

Programming Languages

Arc Macro Language (AML) Unix/PC Used to generate end-user applications and automate GIS procedures.

C/C++/C# Unix/PC C is a fast, powerful programming language; C++ is a superset of C that incorporates the principal aspects of object-oriented programming; C# is a new language which is a combination of C, C++, and Java.

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(Table 1 continued)

Programming Languages

FORTRAN Unix/PC Used primarily for scientific applications or algorithms requiring complex mathematical computations

Structured Query Language (SQL) Unix/PC Designed for database maintenance and querying

Visual Basic PC Object-oriented programming language

Computer Models

COMSIS Rideshare Info. Syst.(CRIS) PC Rideshare matching software

CONCEP PC Combines older programs to produce demographic estimates.

Habitat Evaluation Models (HEM) Unix A set of four sub-models that are used help determine and prioritize environmentally sensitive areas.

Public Facilities Management Unix Uses digital street network files in combination with current and forecast population, housing and employment to determine service areas and capacities.

Regional Growth Forecasting Unix A two-phase process: 1) A regionwide forecast of population, housing and employment. 2) Allocation of the regionwide numbers to smaller geographic areas.

TRANSCAD Unix/PC Trip generation/distribution, mode-split and assignment models that create current and projected person, vehicle and transit trips based on existing and future land uses.

RIS COMPONENTS: GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND DATABASES

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RIS COMPONENTS: GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND DATABASES

This section focuses on the second Regional Information System component: geographic areas and databases. It details the information used to analyze and create historic, current, and projected data in the RIS. This information, as well as the digital boundary files and other land based features and layers, are briefly described. Table 2, at the end of this chapter, contains a brief description of each major database.

GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

A nested system of geographic areas is used at SANDAG to provide the greatest degree of flexibility possible in mapping and reporting data. Master Geographic Reference Areas (MGRAs) are split census blocks and are the smallest unit of geography used to store data. MGRAs are formed by overlaying the boundaries of blocks, census tracts, jurisdictions and spheres of influence, City and County of San Diego Community Planning Areas, and traffic analysis zones. The resulting pieces (more than 30,000 in the region) are MGRAs in which data from nearly all of SANDAG’s regional databases (population and housing estimates, demographic characteristics estimates, census, regional growth forecast, etc.) are stored. MGRAs can be grouped to tabulate or map information for standard geographic areas (such as census tracts) or for user-defined areas (such as market or service areas). For a detailed description of the many geographic areas used to collect and report information, see the report “Geographic Areas Help Define the San Diego Region.”

DATABASES

Census

The Census of Population and Housing is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau every ten years. It is the most comprehensive collection of demographic information available. While the fundamental purpose of the Census is legislative reapportionment and redistricting, the use of census data has expanded into almost every area of government and private enterprise. As a result, the scope of the Census has grown to meet the demand for geographic and demographic detail.

The State Census Data Center Program (SCDC) was designed to decentralize the dissemination of census data. The lead agency in California is the State Department of Finance. Five Regional Data Centers were designated by the state, and each center serves a specific geographic area defined as a county or group of counties. SANDAG/SourePoint is the Regional Census Data Center for the San Diego region. We maintain a complete collection of all data files, along with most of the printed

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reports from the 1990 and 2000 Censuses. SANDAG has produced many profiles and data reports detailing the most frequently requested Census information for the region, jurisdictions, census tracts, and other geographic areas like the City and County of San Diego Community Planning Areas and ZIP code areas. Custom data files and tables can be produced for user-defined areas and for user-specified groupings of variables, such as age or income groups, that differ from SANDAG’s standard reports. The following describes Summary Files (SF) 1 and 3, from which most of the agency’s Census-related reports are produced, and three other specialized data files from the 2000 Census. The American Community Survey (ACS), a new nationwide survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau every year, also is described below.

• Summary Files (SF) 1 and 3: Every household in the country receives one of two census

questionnaires: a short form or a long form. The data included in each Summary File depends upon which questionnaire it was compiled from.

SF1 contains the most geographically detailed information, and it comes from the “short form” or 100 percent count questionnaire. This file contains information about the population by ethnicity, age, household composition; and it contains housing information such as type, tenure, and occupancy status. This data is available down to the census block level of geography.

SF3 data is from the “long form” or sample questionnaire. It is less geographically detailed, but more comprehensive in terms of the information available. The sample questionnaire was received by one in six households; and it contains all of the short form questions, as well as additional questions about marital status, income, educational attainment, occupation, employment status, ancestry, place of work, disability status, home value, rent, and vehicle ownership. This information is available down to the census block group level of geography.

• Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP): In this file, census data are aggregated to special transportation planning zones to provide demographic information and travel information about people at their place of work (rather than at their place of residence, which is how all other census data are reported). The CTPP includes journey-to-work data (including origin and destination information), means of transportation to work, travel times, and socio-economic characteristics of workers.

• Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS): The PUMS files consist of a sample of actual census records (stripped of name and address) that allow the user to produce special crosstabulations of information not available in standard census data products. For example, the user can crosstabulate variables, such as vehicle ownership by type of housing unit or household income by age and occupation of householder. Due to the small sample size of PUMS files, the information is available only for areas of 100,000 or more. Geographic areas are defined as 16 groups of subregional areas in San Diego.

• Special Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Tabulation: The Special Equal Employment Opportunity Tabulation contains occupation data collected in the 2000 Census. It highlights gender, race/ethnicity, education, age, industry, and earnings data. EEO data is available for the nation, states, metropolitan areas, counties, and places with populations of 50,000 or more. The files are grouped into three types: residence data, workflow data, and worksite data.

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• American Community Survey (ACS): An on-going nationwide survey that collects socioeconomic and housing information. The U.S. Census Bureau hopes to replace the decennial long-form with it. Currently, the Census Bureau is sampling selected areas, but it will be collecting data in every U.S. county beginning in 2004. Data is currently available for San Diego County (2002).

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Research Division collects and maintains historic and current crime data, along with justice-related information from the region’s local law enforcement agencies. Examples of the data collected include: statistical data (such as crimes and clearance rates by type of offense), characteristics of crimes, drug use among arrestees, and victim and offender characteristics. In addition, evaluations of criminal justice programs throughout the region are conducted.

(SANDAG recently began a consolidation with the Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS). ARJIS is a complex criminal justice enterprise network that captures every police incident in the San Diego Region. ARJIS and SANDAG are expected to complete their consolidation in July 2004, resulting in the formation of the Public Safety Committee which would cover both ARJIS and criminal justice functions.)

• Arrests: Annual data based on the Monthly Arrest Citation Register (MACR) is available for the region, individual law enforcement agencies, the state, and the five most populous counties in California. The information is available for adults and juveniles by offense, age, sex, and ethnicity.

• Crimes: The Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCR), established by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, provides the most consistent method of crime comparisons. SANDAG maintains crime data for the region and the ten local law enforcement agencies. Crime data are broken out by crime type (homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, residential burglary, non-residential burglary, grand theft, petty theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson). Measures of police performance in solving crimes and returning stolen property also are available. SANDAG obtains the characteristics of crime victims and suspects from ARJIS annually. Information is also available on domestic violence and crimes against senior citizens.

• Criminal Justice Budgets and Staffing: The budget and staffing for each criminal justice component is compiled annually based on fiscal year budgets for each agency. SANDAG also annually computes the rate of sworn officers per 1,000 residents for each local law enforcement agency in a comparable manner.

• Drug Use: Through federal and local funding, SANDAG has conducted interviews and urinalysis testing regarding drug use with men, women, and juveniles in local detention facilities since 1987. The database includes information on drug use by type of drug, frequency of drug use, drug treatment experience, socio-demographic characteristics, and drug markets.

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Demographic and Economic Estimates

SANDAG, in conjunction with the California State Department of Finance and local agencies, produces annual demographic and economic estimates. These estimates are important for tracking the overall change in population size, along with changes in the characteristics of the population. This data is used by many organizations within the region. Data, such as age and ethnicity affect school, health care, and marketing issues; while income is an important indicator of the economic condition of the region, including the standard of living of its residents.

SANDAG produces annual estimates of the population for key characteristics: age, ethnicity, sex, and household income. All of the estimates in this series are produced for the region, jurisdictions, and census tracts, along with associated geographic areas like subregional areas. In addition, the estimates are available for very small geographic units (mgras) to allow for aggregation to user-defined and other non-standard geographic areas, such as service areas or neighborhoods.

• Population and Housing Estimates: These estimates are prepared using the ”housing unit method,” which is the most commonly used technique for producing subcounty population and housing unit estimates. The components of this method are total housing units occupancy rates, average household size, and the number of people living in group quarters, such as military barracks and college dormitories. SANDAG’s estimates are controlled to the jurisdictional totals released by the California Department of Finance.

• Population by Age, Sex and Ethnicity: SANDAG’s annual estimates of demographic characteristics are developed using a cohort-component method to model components of population change (natural increase, the net difference between births and deaths, and net migration) for single-year age cohorts, which are grouped by sex, race (White, Black, Asian, American Indian, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Other, and Two or More Races), and ethnicity (Hispanic and Non-Hispanic). These estimates are controlled to the Population and Housing Estimates at all geographic levels.

• Household Income: SANDAG produces household income estimates for ten household income categories. The estimates rely on a mathematical model that replicates the distribution of household income at the time of the 2000 Census. To produce the estimates for non-census years, median household income estimates for census tracts are derived from various sources. These medians are then entered into the model to produce a distribution of household income for each census tract. Census tract estimates are then allocated to smaller geographies based upon the geographic pattern of household income at the time of the census.

• Daytime Population: Daytime population estimates are determined by analyzing the residential population in an area at 10 a.m. These estimates help planners understand the flow of work and school populations for disaster preparedness, energy, and other types of planning efforts. Daytime population estimates are used for routing hazardous materials, preparing evacuation plans, estimating infrastructure needs, and developing more accurate per-capita statistics, such as crime rates.

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Non-Residential Estimates

SANDAG has compiled information on the location of non-residential activities for more than 25 years. This information is used in transportation studies, public facilities analyses, growth forecasts, and many other applications.

• Activity Centers: Activity Centers are facilities and institutions that attract large numbers of people and generate high volumes of vehicle trips on a regular basis. This includes eight different types of facilities: major employers, office buildings, industrial parks, government centers, shopping centers, hospitals, tourist attractions, and schools. The location, size, number of employees, and date of establishment are maintained for each facility. This information can be used to evaluate the need for additional facilities to perform transportation demand analyses, land use planning, and other studies. Various sources, such as the San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, have been used to monitor and collect the Activity Centers’ data over the years. The source varies by the type of activity.

• Employment Inventory: The Employment Inventory reflects an estimate of average annual employment classified by industry, which is controlled to State Employment Development Department (EDD) average annual employment figures. The inventory is made up of three components: civilian wage and salary employment, self-employed and domestic workers, and military employment. Since this is site-level information, data on the number of employees and firms by employment size for any industry or group of industries can be tabulated and mapped for any geographic area in the region. Confidentiality issues prevent the release of some data for certain industrial classifications or small geographic areas.

Land Layers

• Constrained Lands: Included in this database is information about lands constrained from private development due to policy, public ownership, or environmental reasons.

• Existing Land Use: SANDAG has conducted regional land use inventories since 1971. There has been a great demand for increased spatial and categorical detail in this information, resulting in the evolution of SANDAG’s regional databases from very generalized to more detailed and higher resolution. The original 16 categories of land use have been expanded to more than 100.

In addition to the use of change detection technology, there were several developments in the local geographic information system community over the past ten years that allowed greater detail of land use information to be produced. The first was the San Diego Geographic Source (SanGIS) Landbase effort, which made available a regional parcel- and lot-level database. Through a data sharing agreement with SanGIS, SANDAG was able to use the parcels and lots to align the previously generalized land use information and greatly improve the spatial accuracy of the data.

Another tool that helped determine the correct land use and ownership designations was the County Assessor’s Master Property Record File. It contains land use and ownership codes for each parcel. Secondary sources were also used to verify the land use designations, including review by local agencies, digital ortho (aerial photo) imagery, SANDAG’s employment and

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activity centers inventories, Thomas Brothers map files, the Haines Directory, and the Aerial FotoMap Book (Aerial Fotobank). The land use inventory is updated on an ongoing basis as new or updated information is obtained from local jurisdictions and other agencies and organizations.

• Land Ownership (Public)/Open Space Preserves: The Land Ownership File inventories land owned by various public agencies. Twenty-one categories of federal, state, and local agencies are included. This inventory was compiled using many different data sources, including the SanGIS Landbase file, the County Assessor’s Master Property Record File, and other digital geographic databases. Land owned by local governments was reviewed by each city, the County of San Diego, the San Diego Unified Port District, and other special districts. State-owned land information was gathered from the Anza Borrego and Cuyamaca State Parks, the California Department of Fish and Game, and Caltrans. Federally-owned land information was gathered from individual military installations, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Planned Land Use (General and Community Plans): Each of the 19 jurisdictions in the region has a general plan, or, in the case of the City and County of San Diego, community plans. These plans identify the planned land use for future development. This file was originally compiled as part of the regional growth forecasting process. It has since been proven to be a valuable regional database for planners and others interested in the future development of the region. A regional database has been compiled with the Circulation Elements of the general and community plans in it, which is extremely beneficial for evaluating the compatibility of jurisdictions’ planned transportation networks.

• Vacant Developable Land: The land available for private development is monitored by combining the following three layers: a. Planned land use, which contains the land use designations for future development. b. Existing land use, which identifies land that is already developed and therefore not

available for future development. c. Constrained land, which is not available for development for policy, public ownership, or

environmental reasons.

Regional Growth Forecast

SANDAG has produced long-range forecasts of growth in the region since the early 1970s. The forecasts simulate potential development patterns resulting from public policies being implemented through the general and community plans of the region’s jurisdictions. The Regional Growth Forecast is updated periodically to examine the impacts of public policies changes, as well as changes in demographic and economic conditions. The latest forecast, the 2030 Forecast, is a cooperative effort among the region’s 19 jurisdictions and SANDAG. The variables that are forecast at the regional and subregional level are population, housing units by type, employment by industry, household income, and land use. Regional data is available every year, and subregional data is available every five years.

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Transit

• Onboard Transit Survey: SANDAG has conducted a survey of the region’s transit riders at the request of local transit operators every few years since 1969. Results of the eighth survey were reported in October 2003. It encompassed riders on all bus, trolley, and commuter rail routes. The survey determines trip-making characteristics, such as purpose, fare used, mode of access to and from transit stops, and origin and destination. Other information, including age, gender, income, vehicle availability, frequency of use of public transit, and level of satisfaction with the service provided also was obtained. The survey results are used for route planning, service adjustments, transit marketing, and transportation model calibration.

• Regional Transit Passenger Counting Program: This program updates passenger boardings and alightings by bus stop on an annual basis. While the program was initiated in 1979 to satisfy Urban Mass Transit Administration (now Federal Transit Administration) requirements, it was also designed to provide ridership and other performance data to the region’s fixed-route transit operators. In addition to boardings and alightings, other data is measured for each route: the number of passenger and revenue miles, average trip lengths, passenger and revenue minutes, standing and seating capacity, maximum loads, gallons of fuel used, miles of service over capacity, and on-time performance indicators. Transit planners use this information to correct running times, determine the most efficient frequency of service, analyze route configurations and bus stop locations, and to analyze the need for facility improvements and equipment changes.

• Transit Public Opinion Survey: Surveys of the general public regarding use and non-use of public transit are conducted periodically to determine why people use or do not use transit, the level of familiarity with services, and other characteristics. Approximately 1,300 randomly selected residents from the San Diego region were surveyed by telephone in 2003. Among the data collected about transit riders are trip purpose, frequency, ratings of service characteristics by various modes of transit (bus, trolley, and commuter rail), and demand response. Information on non-riders, such as reasons for not using transit and improvements that could be made to increase ridership, is also included. Demographic characteristics of both groups include age, income, mode to work/school, and area of residence. This information is used by the region’s transit planners in planning and marketing transit service.

• Trolley Ridership Estimation Program: Since the Trolley is a barrier-free system (no turnstiles, etc.) ridership is estimated by combining information collected from vendomat (ticket) machines with survey information collected onboard the vehicles (to determine the proportion of passengers using a monthly pass or other type of fare media not requiring the use of vendomat machines.) A monthly estimate of ridership by fare payment type is produced by combining data from these two sources. Average ridership for weekdays and weekends are calculated for the system and by line.

Other Transportation Information

• Average Daily Traffic Volumes: Each jurisdiction conducts annual vehicle counts on local streets and arterials. Caltrans performs vehicle counts of the region’s freeways. These counts are

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submitted to SANDAG and standardized to represent 24-hour traffic volumes on an average weekday. Each year the resulting traffic volumes are tabulated in a report that lists all street segments and their current and historic volumes over a five-year period. This report is published on our Web site (San Diego Region Average Weekday Traffic Volumes). A Traffic Flow Map is also published periodically depicting these counts as bandwidths.

• Bicycle Use Survey: The Regional Bicycle Counting Program identifies directional volumes at major street intersections. To conduct the counts, surveyors are stationed at selected intersections throughout the region in the morning between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and in the afternoon between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The surveyors gather separate counts of adult riders, children, and mopeds. This periodic study was last conducted in 1997. Many count locations are maintained from study to study so changes can be monitored over time. The information is used by local governments to plan and provide a regional network of safe bicycle routes and facilities.

• Border Surveys: It is increasingly important to identify traffic and trade flow patterns that result from travel between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. As needed, Caltrans conducts on-site surveys at the four California ports of entry in San Diego County: San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, and Calexico. Interviews are conducted at each site with truck drivers, passenger vehicle drivers, and pedestrians. The purpose of the surveys is to help determine travel patterns of vehicles and pedestrians crossing the border, to assess the ability of the transportation system to accommodate international commerce and tourism, and to identify deficiencies in the transportation infrastructure. Surveys collect information about origin/destination, trip purpose, and time of day. Truck surveys collect additional information about commodities and tonnage.

• Level of Service Analysis: Freeway and arterial level of service (LOS) maps are produced as part of the Congestion Management Plan, Regional Transportation Plan, and subarea traffic studies. Traffic engineers use LOS ratings to indicate the degree of congestion along transportation segments. Although there are several ways to determine these ratings, the method used locally is based on the “volume/capacity” concept (the number of vehicles divided by the roadway segment’s capacity). Data compiled to conduct LOS analyses, include number of traffic lanes, functional class, area type, traffic counts, intersection information, and the location and timing of signalized intersections.

• Traffic Generators: The Traffic Generators inventory provides estimates of trip generation rates for different types of facilities and land uses in relation to various characteristics, such as size, number of employees, floor area, parking spaces provided, and number of tenants. Traffic counts are taken at facilities that generate a large number of vehicle trips, such as banks, commercial/retail centers, industrial parks, hotels/motels, office buildings, residential areas, and other relevant establishments. Average trip generation rates for each type of facility are then calculated.

• Travel Behavior Survey: More than 5,000 people representing 2,000 households participated in the 1995 Travel Behavior Survey, an update to similar surveys conducted in 1966, 1977, and 1986. Each person in the randomly-selected households was asked to keep a detailed trip diary for one day. The diary recorded information about each trip, such as the origin and destination addresses, start time, end time, mode, and vehicle occupancy. Other information about the household and

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its members was included: age, ethnicity, employment or student status, household income, and the year, make, and model of all vehicles belonging to household members. The survey was used for many purposes, including monitoring changes and trends in travel behavior, evaluating transportation and transit network performance, and assessing the need for additional transportation facilities. Travel behavior surveys also are used to calibrate regional and subarea transportation models, which help evaluate the impacts of future development on transportation networks. The next Travel Behavior Survey is scheduled for 2005.

• PeMS: Caltrans recently implemented a Performance Monitoring System (PeMS). It reports and archives freeway traffic count and speed data at 200 freeway locations where freeway ramp meters now exist. Counts at additional locations will be available as the freeway ramp metering system is expanded. PeMS provides detailed real-time information at five minute intervals that is useful for operational planning.

• Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): The Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) database includes the daily vehicle miles of travel for four roadway classifications: freeways, other state (Caltrans) highways, arterials/collectors, and local streets. The VMT is an aggregate measure of vehicular travel, and it is calculated by multiplying the mileage and the average daily traffic volume (ADT) for a roadway segment. This information (summarized for each jurisdiction) is included in the report, San Diego Region Average Weekday Traffic Volumes, which can be found on SANDAG’s Web site.

• Vehicle Occupancy and Classification Study: Vehicle occupancy and classification monitoring studies have been conducted approximately every five years since 1981. The studies conducted field counts during the morning commute period for about 100 locations on the region’s roads and freeways. They recorded the type (truck, passenger vehicle, motorcycle, etc.) and occupancy of each vehicle. The most recent study, conducted in 2000, expanded the number of hours and the detail of the vehicle classifications to provide more information about the impact of commercial truck traffic on the region’s roadways. This information is used to evaluate transportation facility needs and estimate vehicle emissions, fuel consumption, and noise levels. The data also provides information on occupancy counts over time, helping planners evaluate the effectiveness of programs that encourage higher vehicle occupancy through ridesharing.

Other Regional Surveys: Public Opinion Survey

SANDAG periodically conducts public opinion surveys of the region’s residents. We use the survey results to evaluate residents’ attitudes and perceptions about issues of regional significance, such as transportation, housing, the environment, and crime. The survey identifies and prioritizes important regional planning activities and monitors change in public opinion over time.

The most recent survey, San Diego Region Public Opinion Survey 2002, examined residents’ opinions about various regional issues. These issues were related to regional quality of life, aspects of local communities, future expectations, demographic and commute characteristics, growth and development policy and funding, transportation infrastructure, public safety, and environmental protection and preservation. Similar surveys were conducted in 1992 and 1998. The next study is scheduled for spring 2005.

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Table 2 Databases

Database Description

Most Recent

Data

Frequency of Updates

On Web Site?

Census

Summary File 1 (SF1) 2000 10 years Y

Summary File 3 (SF3) 2000 10 years Y

Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) 2000 10 years N

Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) 2000 10 years N

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Tabulation 2000 10 years N

American Community Survey (ACS) 2002 annually N

Criminal Justice

Arrests 2002 annually N

Crimes 2002 semi-annually N

Criminal justice budget and staffing 2001-2002 annually N

Drug use 2002 quarterly N

Demographic and Economic Estimates

Population and housing estimates 2003 annually Y

Age, sex, ethnicity and household income estimates 2003 annually Y

Household income 2003 bi-annually Y

Daytime Population 2003 annually Y

Non-Residential Estimates

Activity centers 2001 2 years Y

Employment inventory (geographically sited) 2000 bi-annually N

Land Layers

Constrained lands 1995 5 years Y

Existing land use 2003 continually Y

Land ownership/open space preserves 2003 continually Y

Planned land use (general and community plans) 2003 continually Y

Vacant developable land 2000-2030 5 years Y

Regional Growth Forecast 2000-2030 3-4 years Y

Transit

Onboard transit survey 2003 5 years N

Regional transit passenger counting program 2003 annually Y

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(Table 2 continued)

Database Description

Most Recent Data

Frequency of Updates

On Web Site?

Transit public opinion survey 2003 5 years N

Trolley ridership estimation program 2003 monthly N

Transportation

Average daily traffic volumes 2001 annually Y

Bicycle use survey 1995 varies N

Border surveys varies varies N

Level of service analysis 2002 varies N

Traffic generators 2002 varies Y

Travel behavior survey 1995 10 years N

PeMS 2004 continually N

Vehicle miles traveled 2001 annually Y

Vehicle occupancy and classification study 2000 5 years N

DIGITAL BOUNDARY FILES AND LAYERS

SANDAG maintains a multitude of digital boundary files and layers for geographic areas and features, such as census tracts, jurisdictional boundaries, special districts, freeways, local streets, and sensitive lands and habitats. We use this information for modeling, tabulating, analyzing, and mapping data. User-defined areas, such as service areas or neighborhood areas, can be put into computer-readable form (digitized) and added to the collection of boundary files. These files can then be used in a computer overlay process to tabulate and map data for those areas.

Administrative Boundaries

Administrative boundary files delineate subareas of the San Diego region. They can be mapped alone or used in computer overlay procedures to tabulate and map demographic, economic, land use, transportation, criminal justice, and other spatial information. Administrative areas include census-related geographic areas (census blocks and census tracts) City and County of San Diego Community Planning Areas, jurisdiction boundaries and spheres of influence, and ZIP code areas.

District Boundaries

District boundary files can be mapped alone or used in computer overlay procedures to tabulate and map demographic, economic, land use, transportation, criminal justice, and other spatial information. These files include elected official districts (State Assembly and Senate, Congressional,

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City of San Diego Council Districts, and County of San Diego Supervisorial Districts), along with school, water, sewer, fire, judicial, and transit districts.

Base Map Features

Base map features are often used to provide map reference points, even though they can be mapped alone. For example, freeways and major roads are generally included on maps that show the location of facilities or other point data. Other base map features include airport runways, annotation (for roads, communities, etc.), the coastline, elevation contours, water features (lakes, lagoons and streams), rail stations and railroads, and transit routes.

Imagery

One of the recent advancements in digital data is the availability of satellite imagery and aerial photography. SANDAG has formed several partnerships to obtain digital imagery. Technology has advanced to allow large volumes of data to be compressed for efficient storage and retrieval. Depending on the processing methodology, the imagery is stored in various formats including ERDAS image (.img), tagged image file format (.tif), MrSID (Multi-resolution Seamless Image Database), and Enhanced Compressed Wavelet (.ecw).

The imagery data has several main characteristics: color (false color infra-red, true color, or black and white); resolution (1 foot to 15 meter); date of the data (1992-2002); or extent (City of San Diego, San Diego region, Southern California, or Baja California).

Date Resolution Color Extent

2002 3 Foot True Color Western San Diego Region 2000 2 Foot CIR San Diego Region 2000 15 Meter True Color Southern California – Baja 2000 15 Meter CIR Southern California – Baja 1999 1 Foot BW City of San Diego 1996 1 Meter CIR San Diego Region 1995 10 Meter CIR San Diego Region 1994 1 Meter BW San Diego Region 1992 1 Foot BW City of San Diego Use and access to these imagery products may be restricted due to licensing arrangements.

Land Layers

Land layers provide information about the location of facilities, such as colleges and universities, employment sites, government centers, hospitals, industrial parks, landfills, large private employers, office buildings, shopping centers, and tourist attractions. Other digital land layer files provide “land cover” information like digital orthophotos (aerial photos), existing and planned land use, land ownership, and vacant developable land.

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Sensitive Lands/Natural Resources

These layers and boundary files offer vital information about special land areas and natural resources. Numerous files fall under this category: Climate Zones, Earthquake Faults, Elevation (Digital Elevation Models [DEMs] Floodplains (FEMA-FIRMS), Hydrologic Basins and Watersheds, Hydrology, Important Farmlands, National Wetlands Inventory, Sensitive Species Sightings, Soils, Steep Slope Areas (25% and greater), Vegetation, and Vernal Pool Complexes.

Transportation Networks (Existing and Proposed)

A transportation network database maintains an inventory of existing and proposed transportation facilities. The database depicts the alignment of streets, freeways, and public transit routes, along with the location of traffic signals and transit stops. Approximately 200 transportation network attributes, such as street names, roadway classification, number of lanes, intersection design, posted speeds, phasing of improvements, and transit service characteristics are included as well. These two computerized street network systems—the highway modeling network and the transit modeling network—are used in transportation modeling, facility site location analysis, and computer map generation. SANDAG works closely with Caltrans, transit agencies, and local jurisdictions to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date.

Table 3 describes the files and layers that are maintained, frequency of updates, and whether they can be downloaded from SANDAG’s Web site. Also available from the Web site are selected digital thematic geographic data layers in ArcINFO export format. The coverages, compressed using GZIP, are in the California State Plane Coordinate System (feet) NAD 83. The files can be downloaded for use on PC and Unix platforms. There are four options:

Metadata provides documentation. It contains information such as attributes and their values, number of features in the layer, the source of the information, and limitations to the data. Image allows the user to view the data in its entirety (for simple data sets), or view a sample of more complex data sets. Code documentation displays the values of the attributes contained within the data layer. Download saves the compressed (gzip) ArcInfo export file (.e00.gz) to your disk. Compressed and uncompressed file sizes are provided to help determine disk space requirements.

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Table 3 Digital Boundary Files

Digital Layer Category

Date of

Data

Frequency of Updates

On Web

site?

(See foot-

notes)

Administrative Boundaries

Census blocks 2000 10 years N A

Census Designated Places (CDPs) 2000 10 years N B

Census tracts 2000 10 years Y A

City spheres of influence 2003 as needed N B

Jurisdictions 2003 annually Y (1995) A

Major Statistical Areas 2000 10 years Y B

San Diego City Community Planning Areas 2003 as needed N A

San Diego Co. Community Planning Areas 2003 as needed N B

Subregional Areas 2000 10 years Y B

Traffic Analysis Zones 2000 as needed N B

Urbanized Area 2000 10 years Y

ZIP codes 2001 as needed Y (1993) B

Base Map Features

Airport noise contours Varies as needed N

Airport runways Varies as needed Y

Annotation (roads, city names, etc.) 2003 as needed Y

Coastline 1997 n/a Y A

Elevation contours (20’/40’-USGS 7.5 min quads) mid-1970s n/a N

Elevation contours

(regional coverage, 40’contours)

mid-1970s n/a Y

Freeways 2003 as needed Y A

Lagoons 1997 as needed Y B

Lakes 2001 as needed Y B

Public land survey/ranchos n/a n/a N C

Railroads 2001 as needed Y B

Rail stations 2003 as needed Y

Roads (major) 2003 as needed Y A

Roads (other) 2003 as needed Y A

Roads (planned) 2003 as needed Y

Streams 1997 as needed Y

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Digital Layer Category

Date of

Data

Frequency of Updates

On Web

site?

(See foot-

notes)

Transit routes 2003 as needed N

USGS quad 1991 n/a Y

District Boundaries

Assembly (State) 2000 10 years N A

Community Colleges 2002 as needed N A

Congressional (U.S.) 2000 10 years N A

Council (City of San Diego) 2000 10 years N B

County Water Authority 2002 as needed N A

Elementary school 2002 as needed N A

High school 2002 as needed N A

Judicial 2000 as needed N

Senatorial (State) 2000 10 years N A

Supervisorial (County of San Diego) 2000 10 years N B

Transit districts 1998 as needed N

Water service 1994 as needed N A

Land Layers

Colleges and universities (points) 2002 annually Y

Constrained lands 2000 5 years Y B

Digital orthophotos 1994/1995 5 years N

Employment sites (points) 2000 annually N

Existing land use 2000 5 years Y B

Government centers (points) 2002 annually Y

Hospitals (points) 2002 annually Y

Industrial parks (points) 2002 annually N

Land ownership/open space preserves 2000 5 years Y B

Large private employers (points) 2002 annually Y

Office buildings (points) 2002 annually N

Planned land use 2000 as needed Y B

Redevelopment/infill areas 2000 5 years Y B

Satellite imagery (false color/infra-red) 2000 5 years N D

School sites 2002 as needed Y

Shopping centers (points) 2002 annually N

Site specific planned land use 2002 5 years Y B

Tourist attractions (points) 2002 annually Y

Vacant developable land 2000 5 years Y B

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Digital Layer Category

Date of

Data

Frequency of Updates

On Web

site?

(See foot-

notes)

Sensitive Lands/Natural Resources

Climate zones 1970 n/a Y

Earthquake faults late 1970s n/a N

Elevation--Digital Elevation Models (DEMS) mid-1970s n/a N

Floodplains (FEMA-FIRMS) 1994 unknown Y E

Hydrologic basins and watersheds 1994 unknown Y

Hydrology mid-1970s n/a N C

Important farmlands 1992 4 years N

National Wetlands Inventory 1985 unknown Y

Sensitive species sightings 1999 unknown N

Slope (percent)—10 meter mid-1970s n/a N

Soils mid-1970s unknown Y

Steep slope areas (25% and greater) mid-1970s unknown Y

Vegetation (excludes City of Carlsbad) 1995 5 years Y

Vernal pool complexes 1996 unknown N A. Layer maintained by San Diego Geographic Information Source (SanGIS) participants. Some

layers have been modified by SANDAG for our use. B. Layer built by SANDAG that has been registered to the SanGIS Landbase. C. Licensed through Teale Data Center. Not available in digital format from SANDAG. D. Licensed through SPOT Image Corporation. Not available in digital format from SANDAG. E. Built by FEMA on SanGIS Landbase.

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MAPS

Publication Maps

SANDAG produces a variety of publication maps. These maps are available to the public at either no cost or for a small fee. These color maps are typically produced at a scale of 1 inch’ 2 miles and portray the entire San Diego region. A list of publication maps is shown below. These maps can be obtained by contacting our Public Information Office or by ordering online at the SANDAG Web site.

San Diego Region 2000 Census Tracts, March 2001 Displays census tracts from the 2000 Census. It includes major statistical areas and subregional areas.

San Diego Region Planned Land Use This map displays 15 categories of planned land use by color code for the San Diego region. The land use information is based on the community and general plans of each jurisdiction as of October 2003. The categories were designed to be compatible with SANDAG's Existing Generalized Land Use Map.

San Diego Region Land Available for Development, October 2003 This map depicts future development patterns based on existing policies of the region's local jurisdictions as of October 2003. Land available for development is the result of overlaying existing land use, constraints to development, and planned land use.

Generalized Land Use, October 2003 It displays 19 categories of land use by color code for the San Diego region.

Generalized Land Ownership, April 2002 It displays 16 categories of land ownership by color code for the San Diego region (available unfolded only).

San Diego/Baja California Planned Land Use/Propuesta de Usos Del Suelo Map, May 2003 This map displays 12 categories of planned land use by color code for the San Diego /Tijuana region. The information was compiled from land use and transportation plans of local jurisdictions in San Diego and Baja California. The reverse side of the map depicts existing land cover using satellite imagery.

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Custom Maps

SANDAG is making increased efforts to make databases, digital boundary files, and layers available to those with in-house mapping capabilities. However, SANDAG recognizes that not everyone has the resources to create their own maps. We can produce maps to the requestor’s specifications—for any geographic area in the San Diego region, at nearly any scale, in black in white or color. We also can produce maps that combine SANDAG data sets with user-supplied information. For example, a list of program participants with addresses could be computer address-matched (a process of determining x-y coordinates for each address), and then displayed as points on a map. Or, the information could be grouped into geographic areas (such as census tracts) and combined with existing information (such as population) to create a map that shows participants per 1,000 population.

Interactive Mapping

Interactive mapping lets the user map information to their specifications. SANDAG has developed interactive mapping tools that increase the accessibility and usefulness of some of our most popular databases. These applications—San Diego/Tijuana Atlas, Demographic and Economic Mapping System, Industrial Clusters, and REDI—are accessible through our Web site and are described in more detail in the “Applications” chapter of this report.

ACCESSING THE RIS THROUGH THE INTERNET

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ACCESSING THE RIS THROUGH THE INTERNET

THE SANDAG WEB SITE

SANDAG uses its Web site to communicate a wealth of information to the public, public agencies, elected officials, and the media. The Web site is an economical and efficient tool that allows users to access SANDAG data, reports, and other regional information quickly and easily.

The SANDAG Web site has been structured so that it is easy to navigate. Links to pertinent information are on the right and left hand sides of the pages. The left navigation bar contains links to news items, meetings, and current SANDAG publications. The right navigation bar contains information in three main categories: programs, resources, and services.

Programs

• Land Use and Regional Growth: SANDAG provides the regional framework to connect land use to transportation systems, manage population growth, preserve the environment, and sustain our economic prosperity.

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• Transportation: As the regional transportation planning agency, SANDAG allocates millions of dollars each year in local, state, and federal funds for the region's transportation network. SANDAG develops the Regional Transportation Plan to implement a long-range vision for buses, the Trolley, rail, highways, major streets, bicycle travel, walking, goods movement, and airport services.

• Housing: The Regional Housing Program promotes strategies to increase the supply of a variety of housing choices for all residents of the region, regardless of income. Emphasis is placed on implementing strategies that enable local jurisdictions to meet their housing needs, along with integrating the housing program into the Regional Plan.

• Economics and Finance: SANDAG evaluates, monitors, and reports on issues affecting the fiscal stability and economic prosperity of the region. Focus areas include employment cluster analysis, the economic relationship with southern California and Baja California, cross-border development strategies, and the evaluation of the economic prosperity effects of land use decisions and development.

• Environment: SANDAG strives to build regional consensus on environmental planning and action. Through these efforts, SANDAG has preserved thousands of acres of open space, protected threatened and endangered species, and put sand on the region’s beaches. Regional environmental planning activities concentrate on preserving open space, maintaining our regional shoreline, protecting and restoring our streams and rivers, ensuring clean water, and managing our waste.

• Borders: SANDAG implements a comprehensive planning program to address important binational/regional issues including intergovernmental relations, transportation infrastructure, ports of entry planning, economic development, environmental planning and preservation, and other related issues.

• Criminal Justice: SANDAG's Criminal Justice Research Division is an invaluable resource for local communities on crime, public safety, and crime-reduction strategies.

Resources

(Some of the following data is available in PDF format. The user must have Adobe Acrobat Reader software, which is available free from Adobe’s Web site, to view and print PDF files.) • Demographics and Other Data:

Profile Warehouse – Profiles are presentation quality reports. They contain our most frequently requested data items, such as current estimates, forecasts, and census data. The profiles are available for a number of geographic areas.

Data Warehouse – This resource features demographic, economic, transportation, land use, and other information about the San Diego region. Unlike the Profile Warehouse, which produces reports, Data Warehouse allows the user to create custom data sets from a selection

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of census, current estimates, and forecast variables. The user is also given a choice of output formats: display, text, or spreadsheet format.

Fast Facts – This tool is a quick way to get a brief profile of the San Diego region, one of its 18 cities, or the unincorporated area. It features historic, current, and forecast demographic, economic, and housing.

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Census - The census is conducted every ten years and provides the most comprehensive source of demographic and economic information available. SANDAG is the state- designated Regional Census Data Center for the San Diego region. SANDAG maintains a variety of reports, tabulations, digital data, and maps portraying Census 2000 and 1990 Census information. We work with the Census Bureau, local agencies, and the public on all census-related issues.

Annual Estimates - Each year, SANDAG produces estimates of demographic and economic characteristics for small geographic areas. These estimates are controlled to the California Department of Finance (DOF) January 1 jurisdiction-level estimates, which are released each May.

Long-Range Forecasts - SANDAG produces long-range forecasts of population, housing, employment, and demographic characteristics about every four years. The 2030 Forecast was accepted for review and use in planning studies by the SANDAG Board of Directors on November 21, 2003. Summary forecast data for 2000, 2010, 2020, and 2030 can be accessed here.

Roadway Traffic and Transit Monitoring - SANDAG maintains traffic count data for significant roadways and all Caltrans routes in the San Diego region. We collect data to generate transit agency performance reports, transportation forecasts, and counts of passenger boardings and alightings.

Crime and Arrest Reports - SANDAG's Criminal Justice Research Division produces semi- annual crime reports and annual arrest reports. Semi-annual crime reports have broken crime data down by type for the region and its ten local law enforcement agencies. Measures of police performance in solving crimes and returning stolen property also are available, along with annual information about the characteristics of crime victims. The information is presented for adults and juveniles by offense, age, sex, and race/ethnicity.

• Maps and GIS: SANDAG employs sophisticated geographic information systems to help planners and decision-makers visualize real-world phenomena.

Geographic Information System (GIS) - Many of the digital boundary files and layers that SANDAG has developed (noted in the previous chapter) may be downloaded from our Web site at no cost.

Interactive Maps - SANDAG has created several interactive mapping applications that maybe used freely by Web site visitors. Users can customize maps to display demographic, economic, transportation, and trans-border themes. Please refer to the “Applications” chapter for more detailed information about these applications.

Printed Maps - SANDAG produces a wide variety of printed maps that can be ordered on- line, or by calling SANDAG’s toll free Publications Hotline at 1 (888) 707-PUBS.

• Publications: SANDAG issues many publications on a variety of topics useful to the region.

Many of these publications, including this report, can be accessed through the Web site or by

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calling SANDAG’s toll free Publications Hotline at 1 (888) 707-PUBS. The publications are organized by topics. SANDAG INFOs and Fact Sheets also are available on-line.

Services

• Public Information Office: The Public Information Specialist is available to answer questions from the public, member agencies, and the news media on a variety of areas: general inquires regarding SANDAG, its informational products, programs, and projects. The PIO can be reached via e-mail at pio@sandag.org.

• Technical Assistance for Members: SANDAG’s Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program is the member resource for data, technical capabilities, and services. Member agencies have access to SANDAG resources to assist in a variety of policy and planning activities. Staff from all of the San Diego region’s 18 cities and county government may access LTA services and attend LTA workshops. Guidelines for using the program are available on this site, as are sample products from LTA projects.

• SourcePoint: SourcePoint is a non-profit corporation operated by SANDAG that offers specialized economic research services and products to private businesses and government agencies. It is composed of skilled researchers, statisticians, technologists and established industry veterans. All revenues generated from SourcePoint projects are reinvested into both SourcePoint and SANDAG programs. SourcePoint is independently managed by its own board of directors.

• RideLink: The RideLink program assists employees, employers, students, and other residents to find alternatives to solo commuting. The program works with local employers to promote commuter benefit programs. RideLink also manages a regional Vanpool program, provides vanpool and carpool partner matching, and facilitates the Guaranteed Ride Home program.

• FasTrak: The I-15 FasTrak program allows solo drivers to pay a toll to use the Express Lanes on Interstate 15, normally reserved for vehicles with two or more occupants. More information about this program can be found on this site.

Other Information Available

The SANDAG Web site contains additional information on its members, regional planning news, public notices, SANDAG employment opportunities, and RFP notices. It also has contact information and links to other useful Web sites. Those sites are listed in Table 4.

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Table 4 Web Sites of Interest

Web site URL (Internet Address)

City of: Carlsbad…………………………………………... www.ci.carlsbad.ca.us Chula Vista………………………………………. www.ci.chula-vista.ca.us Coronado………………………………………… www.coronado.ca.us Del Mar……………………………………………. www.delmar.ca.us El Cajon…………………………………………… www.ci.el-cajon.ca.us Encinitas…………………………………………. www.ci.encinitas.ca.us

Escondido…………………………………………. www.ci.escondido.ca.us Imperial Beach…………………………………… www.ci.imperial-beach.ca.us La Mesa…………………………………………… www.cityoflamesa.org Lemon Grove…………………………………….. www.ci.lemon-grove.ca.us National City……………………………………... www.ci.national-city.ca.us Oceanside………………………………………… www.ci.oceanside.ca.us Poway……………………………………………... www.ci.poway.ca.us San Diego………………………………………… www.sannet.gov San Marcos……………………………………….. www.ci.san-marcos.ca.us Santee…………………………………………….. www.ci.santee.ca.us Solana Beach……………………………………... www.ci.solana-beach.ca.us Vista……………………………………………….. www.ci.vista.ca.us County of San Diego……………………………………… www.co.san-diego.ca.us Other San Diego Web sites: S.D. Convention and Visitors Bureau…………. www.sandiego.org San Diego Association of Governments……… www.sandag.org San Diego Dialogue……………………………… www.sandiegodialogue.org SanGIS……………………………………………… www.sangis.org San Dieguito River Park…………………………. www.sdrp.org San Diego State University……………………… www.sdsu.edu University of California, San Diego……………. www.ucsd.edu California State University, San Marcos………. www.csusm.edu Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)…………… www.sdcommute.org State of California: CA Geographic Information Association (CGIA) www.cgia.org CA Environmental Resources Eval. System (Ceres) www.ceres.ca.gov Caltrans (CA Dept. of Transporation)…………. www.dot.ca.gov Department of Finance………………………….. www.dof.ca.gov Official California Legislative Info……………… www.leginfo.ca.gov Teale Data Center (State of CA)……………….. www.teale.ca.gov U.S. Government: Bureau of Labor Statistics……………………….. www.bls.gov Bureau of the Census…………………………….. www.census.gov Bureau of Transportation Statistics……………. www.bts.gov Economic Statistics Briefing Room……………... www.whitehouse.gov/fsbr/esbr.html Federal Geographic Data Committee…………. www.fgdc.gov GPO Access (access to federal info)……………. www.gpoaccess.gov United States Geological Survey (USGS)………. www.usgs.gov