CommunityViz Version 3.2 Released

Boulder, Colorado, December 2006—Placeways, LLC, and the Orton Family Foundation announced the release of CommunityViz® Version 3.2, the ArcGIS extension for land-use planning. CommunityViz software is used by planners and resource managers around the world for scenario analysis and 3D visualization. Its low prices are made possible by the Orton Family Foundation. The new release of CommunityViz provides a suite of enhancements and compatibility with the latest geographic information system (GIS) and visualization platforms including ESRI's ArcGIS 9.2 software and Google Earth™ 4.

The focus of the new version is making planning decisions more accessible to wider audiences. For example, the new Scenario Sketch tools make it easy for almost anyone to sketch alternative land-use proposals on a map with the click of a mouse. The dynamic analysis features in CommunityViz can immediately calculate the resulting impacts on schools, taxes, traffic, open space, and many other factors. Proposals can be shared with the public over the Web and in several 3D formats including Google Earth with SketchUp® buildings. The new functions are completely compatible with popular existing features of CommunityViz like the build-out wizard and the site suitability analyzer.

Placeways is now shipping the new version. Current CommunityViz customers with support contracts are eligible for free upgrades.

Additional information and video demos are available at www.communityviz.org and www.placeways.com.

About Placeways, LLC
Placeways provides GIS-based analysis and visualization tools for making better, faster decisions about the shape of our world. The Boulder, Colorado-based company supports customers all over the world with software and service for the popular ArcGIS land-use planning extension called CommunityViz and the real-time analysis extension called LayerLogic™.

About the Orton Family Foundation
The Orton Family Foundation seeks to transform the land-use planning system as a pathway to vibrant and sustainable communities. In partnership with nonprofit planning organizations, local and regional planning agencies, and others, the foundation helps empower people to make land-use decisions inspired by their community's heart and soul. The foundation embraces poet Gary Snyder's belief that "People who can agree they share a commitment to the landscape—even if they are otherwise locked in struggle with each other—have at least one deep thing to share."

Press Information:
Merix Gustin, ESRI
Tel.: 303-442-8800
E-mail: merix@placeways.com