An Analysis of Consequences of Land Evaluation and Path Optimization (original) (raw)

Using Geographic Information Systems to Develop and Analyze Land-Use Policies

Urbanization has a profound effect on the natural environment. Decisions concerning the transformation of land from a natural to developed state take place almost exclusively on the local level in the United States. While the importance and complexity of land-use decisions are high, the resources available to local government officials are sparse. Incorporating ecological principles (stream quality protection) into local land use decisions is challenging due to the complexity of the problems and significance of the impact on the community. This research explored the use of geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to clarify land use decisions. The method employed was a case study of the city of San Marcos, Texas where GIS technology was used to create build-out maps of three different watersheds within the city. These build-out maps provide a snapshot of the stream quality in each of the three watersheds when the city reaches build out. Impervious cover is used as the indicator for stream quality. A land-use method was used to estimate and forecast impervious cover levels in each of the three watersheds. Three working hypotheses were developed to predict whether stream quality would be consistent with community expectations under current development policies, a conservation development ordinance, or a restriction on development within the 100-year floodplain. The results indicate that when the city of San Marcos reaches build out, two of the three watersheds analyzed will not meet community expectations for stream quality under current development policies. Results also show that neither of the stream quality protection measures chosen meets community expectations.

Land evaluation for land use planning

Building Science, 1965

Because of the tremendous rate at which land is being converted to urban uses in the metropolitan fringe areas of the United States, and because there is not an inexhaustable supply of this land, land-use plans must be formulated to provide for the optimum utilization of available land resources. A thorough and competent analysis of the physical characteristics of the land in the planning area must be a part of the preparation of land-use plans for every metropolitan fringe area if this goal is to be attained. The purpose of this article is to present methods and recommendations for the evaluation of the physical characteristics of land that will contribute toward the development of effective master plans for land use.

GIS-based land-use suitability analysis: a critical overview

Progress in Planning, 2004

There are three main objectives of this monograph: (i) to provide an introduction to geographical information technology along with an historical perspective on the evolving role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in planning, (ii) to overview relevant methods and techniques for GISbased land-use suitability mapping and modeling, and (iii) to identify the trends, challenges and prospects of GIS-based land-use suitability analysis. The monograph focuses on two perspectives of GIS-based land-use suitability analysis: the techno-positivist perspective and the socio-political, public participation perspectives. It is organized into six chapters. After an introductory setting chapter, which defines the scope of land-use suitability analysis, an overview of relevant GIS technology is provided in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 offers an historical account of the development of GIS. It also discusses the development of GIS in the context of evolving perspectives of planning. Chapter 4 gives an overview of the methods for GIS-based land-use suitability modeling. The overview provides a background against which selected case studies are discussed in Chapter 5. The concluding chapter summarized the main points of the monographs and discusses problems and prospects for GIS-based land-use suitability analysis. q

A framework for land evaluation

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Land Value Maps are Not New, But Their Utility Needs to be Re-Discovered

International Journal of Transdisciplinary Research, 2009

Central to the successful and accurate assessment of real property parcels, especially given their variation in urban settings, is the sound valuation of the land components. Since improvements depreciate-by one study at the rate of 1.5% yearly − it is the land values that are responsible for the rise in property values. Moreover, land values reflect a community's economic productivity and vitality and not the activity of any single titleholder. It is therefore important to see land parcel values in relation to one another. A century ago when Henry George's arguments for taxing only land values were better appreciated this was understood very well. Land value maps were regarded as sound practice and commonly used. However, because land and improvements have mostly been taxed at the same rate, and because the labor costs of creating land value maps were high, their use gradually fell into decline. Today the availability of geographic information systems (GIS) computer technology allows them to be created easily, cheaply and quickly. They can improve the accuracy of land valuation and easily show the soundness credibility of any given assessment. Furthermore, GIS land value maps, done routinely, would facilitate the wider implementation of land value taxation. Since taxing the stream of ground rent reflected in site values is by general acclaim the most ideal revenue stream, it can make easily feasible what has long been a technical and administrative obstacle.

Cartographic Tools for Improved Spatial Planning of Rural Areas: Multi-Criteria Decision Making Techniques and …

icaci.org

Limited access to natural resources, increasing population growth and conflictive objectives among stakeholders require decision-makers finding the best land use prescription strategies, and identifying the spatial distribution of such solutions as land development guides. Optimisation (or variant satisfying) models are seen as problem solving approaches whose output is a prescription strategy. Linear and goal programming approaches are a common optimisation technique used in land use decision making. Although linear programming facilitates the optimal allocation of land uses so that the selected objective function reaches its maximum while all the requirements and decision makers preferences are fulfilled, no information on spatial distribution of the results is provided. On the other hand, geographic information systems (GIS) provide a variety of spatial functions and mapping capabilities, but limited resources for integrating spatial information and the decision marker's preferences.

A computer aided land use study technique

Design Automation Conference, 1974

This paper describes a computer-aided, decisionmaking technique by which the suitability of any site or area may be evaluated with respect to any type of usage or development. The method described provides the designer with the means for making judgments as to locational desirability even with limited data availability. The procedure also raises the level of decision parameter selection above the "local" level to include "universal" or "global" interrelationships. The means for utilizing macro-level data and information to make micro-level decision is demonstrated. An actual case study for housing site suitability near Chicago is presented to illustrate the approach. The merits of the technique over previous approaches and the problem of designer "judgment" in computer-aided methods is also discussed.