Decision-Support Tools of Choice

As traffic congestion, air pollution, and loss of green space, some of the most visible signatures of urbanization, cause ever-increasing concern within communities, the combination of Esri GIS products and ERDAS' geographic imaging solutions is quickly becoming a planner's "favorite decision-support tool." By enabling urban planning departments around the world to tap into the benefits of high-resolution imagery, managers, elected officials, and the public are receiving better information as they struggle with the demands of economic development and preservation of vital resources.

St. Charles County, Missouri, is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States, which is fueling concerns about managing the area's growth and protecting the quality of life. As with the City of Columbia, Missouri (see main article, "University Collaboration and Imagery Help Columbia, Missouri, Prepare for Its Future"), the Planning and Zoning Department is collaborating with CARES to develop processes that will demonstrate the potential of geographic imaging in the County's day-to-day planning and GIS management activities through funding from NASA.

The project is using a variety of satellite imagery including Landsat Thematic Mapper and high-resolution IKONOS imagery (multispectral and panchromatic). Using ERDAS IMAGINE and ArcView GIS software, CARES is developing a tool for floodplain management, mapping and monitoring land cover for updating and inclusion in the County's Master Plan 2010, and modeling land cover changes and prediction. The new data sets developed for the project are being delivered through an interactive Web site using ArcView Internet Map Server (IMS) software.

Geographic imaging and high-resolution imagery are also valuable in the creation of highly visual and realistic three-dimensional presentations used to communicate development options and preservation priorities within a community.

The synthesis of geographic imaging and GIS helps planners

• Identify land use and zoning inconsistencies.
• Target vacant properties for redevelopment.
• Identify zoning/building code violations.
• Determine building heights and population density.
• Update tax parcel maps and validate assessments.
• Track emissions and evaluate their impact on air quality.
• Visualize urban growth and developing trends.
• Define and protect viewsheds.
• Identify surfaces that impact storm water quality and the best locations for solutions.
• Prepare for emergencies and manage relief efforts.

For more information about geographic imaging solutions, contact ERDAS (toll-free: 1-877-GO-ERDAS [1-877-463-7327] or on the Web: www.erdas.com).

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