UrbanFootprint represents a new generation of land use scenario creation and analysis tools. Written entirely using open source software by Berkeley-based Calthorpe Associates, UrbanFootprint is an opportunity for enabling Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and other city, county, regional, and state governmental organizations to use a common platform for land use, transportation, and resource scenarios. Additionally, because of the open source nature of UrbanFootprint, non-profit and other non-governmental organizations will be able to use the software to develop and compare scenarios either independently or collaboratively.
Most of the scenario creation and editing process in UrbanFootprint is through the use of a thin-client interface, meaning that the user interacts with UrbanFootprint to create and design scenarios using a web browser based connection. Servers then interpret the input from the user and can run analyses on the resulting scenarios. The quality of both the scenarios and the analysis of them are dependent on user knowledge and skill. Some skills rely on the user’s understanding of land use and transportation planning and a sense of a community’s identity and culture. These skills are a part of the working professional’s tool kit. The skills required to use the UrbanFootprint interface to create, design and interpret scenarios are an extension of the experienced planner’s capabilities and can be readily taught to planners who have had some exposure to the concepts of computer based land use scenario modeling.
Data preparation for the base load (current conditions) datasets and setup of the analysis modules requires careful work by skilled users. Without instruction, a majority of potential users will find these preparation steps daunting or impossible to complete, thereby reducing UrbanFootprint’s usefulness. Development of training systems for this UrbanFootprint skill set will be discussed as a part of this introductory curriculum development project. Recommendations will be made for training skilled computer users in this process.
The primary subject of this project is the development of curricula and materials for training new UrbanFootprint users. Needs for three principal user groups will be addressed. The first user group is comprised of elected officials, senior staff, and interested members of the public who will need to understand the concepts embodied by UrbanFootprint and its analytical modules, but who will not be “hands on” with it. User group number two consists of experienced planners who will design and interpret UrbanFootprint scenarios through the thin client interface. The final user group includes technical staff members/modelers/system administrators who will be installing and administering UrbanFootprint, conducting command line analysis, and using the data, tools, and methods to prepare baseline conditions data and analysis module inputs. UrbanFootprint represents a new generation of land use scenario creation and analysis tools. Written entirely using open source software by Berkeley-based Calthorpe Associates, UrbanFootprint is an opportunity for enabling Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and other city, county, regional, and state governmental organizations to use a common platform for land use, transportation, and resource scenarios. Additionally, because of the open source nature of UrbanFootprint, non-profit and other non-governmental organizations will be able to use the software to develop and compare scenarios either independently or collaboratively.
Most of the scenario creation and editing process in UrbanFootprint is through the use of a thin-client interface, meaning that the user interacts with UrbanFootprint to create and design scenarios using a web browser based connection. Servers then interpret the input from the user and can run analyses on the resulting scenarios. The quality of both the scenarios and the analysis of them are dependent on user knowledge and skill. Some skills rely on the user’s understanding of land use and transportation planning and a sense of a community’s identity and culture. These skills are a part of the working professional’s tool kit. The skills required to use the UrbanFootprint interface to create, design and interpret scenarios are an extension of the experienced planner’s capabilities and can be readily taught to planners who have had some exposure to the concepts of computer based land use scenario modeling.
Data preparation for the base load (current conditions) datasets and setup of the analysis modules requires careful work by skilled users. Without instruction, a majority of potential users will find these preparation steps daunting or impossible to complete, thereby reducing UrbanFootprint’s usefulness. Development of training systems for this UrbanFootprint skill set will be discussed as a part of this introductory curriculum development project. Recommendations will be made for training skilled computer users in this process.
The primary subject of this project is the development of curricula and materials for training new UrbanFootprint users. Needs for three principal user groups will be addressed. The first user group is comprised of elected officials, senior staff, and interested members of the public who will need to understand the concepts embodied by UrbanFootprint and its analytical modules, but who will not be “hands on” with it. User group number two consists of experienced planners who will design and interpret UrbanFootprint scenarios through the thin client interface. The final user group includes technical staff members/modelers/system administrators who will be installing and administering UrbanFootprint, conducting command line analysis, and using the data, tools, and methods to prepare baseline conditions data and analysis module inputs.
