APPLICATION OF GIS IN

URBAN PLANNING

A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store,

manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data.  The
key word to this technology is Geography – this means that some portion of the
data is spatial.  In other words, data that is in some way referenced to locations
on the earth.

Coupled with this data is usually tabular data known as attribute data. 
Attribute data can be generally defined as additional information about each of
the spatial features.  An example of this would be schools. The actual location
of the schools is the spatial data.  Additional data such as the school name,
level of education taught, student capacity would make up the attribute data.

GIS is more than just software. People and methods are combined with
geospatial software and tools, to enable spatial analysis, manage large
datasets, and display information in a map/graphical form.

Simply Put- “A system that captures, stores, analyzes, manages and presents
data with reference to geographic location data.”

Elements of GIS:
The major elements of GIS are geography-the actual location, information- the
description of the location, and the system to integrate and perform the
required GIS functions.
i) Geographic: The system is concerned with data relating to geography and
geographic scales of measurement. This is referenced by some coordinate
system to locations on the surface of the earth.

ii) Information: The system allows for the storage and extraction of specific
and meaningful attributes information. These data are connected to some
geography and are organized around a model of the real world. Spatial and
non-spatial queries are made possible.

iii) System: An automated system should include an integrated set of

procedures for the input, storage, manipulations and output of geographic
information.

GIS is an integrated single platform of three areas viz. the relational database
management system to store spatial and non-spatial data; cartographic
capabilities to depict, graph and plot geographic information; and spatial
analytical capabilities to facilitate manipulation and spatial analysis.

Components of GIS:
There are four components of GIS: (a) data, (b) hardware, (c) software, and (d)
users.Data tends to be at the centre of any GIS system, while the computer
components of the system support the data management and analysis.

a) Data
GIS components are dynamic.GIS developers are often encouraged to adopt a
data-centered approach.All data in a GIS are either spatial data or attribute
data.Spatial data tells us where something occurs. Attribute data tells what
occurs.Every GIS provides the ability to store and manipulate both the spatial
data and the associated attribute data. Spatial data includes information
pertaining to location of objects of interest, their distribution and extent,
adjacency, proximity and connectivity, verses, attribute data, or observations
about features.

b) Hardware
Computer hardware used to support GIS is a highly variable part of the overall
system. Users will customize their hardware environment to best meet their
own individual needs.GIS must contain hardware to support data input, output,
storage, retrieval, display and analysis.

c) Software
Software is also a highly dynamic part of the system with large number of GIS
software packages existing now.These systems are available for almost all
types of hardware platforms and come with a wide variety of functional
capabilities. The range in software options goes from generic turnkey systems
that are ready for use "right out of the box" to customized installations
designed to support specific user needs, like TransCAD.

d) Users
The final component required for a true GIS is users. The term "user" may refer
to any individual who will use GIS to support project or program goals, or to an
entire organization that will employ GIS in support of its overall mission. GIS
users are often envisioned as hands-on computer processing people. While this
is in part true, we choose to define a broader spectrum of GIS users.

USE OF GIS IN URBAN

PLANNING :
GIS were developed in the late 1960s, yet in the early days very few planning
departments installed them because of the prohibitive cost of hardware and
the limited capabilities of the software. With the decrease in the price of
computer hardware and software, the use of GIS has emerged in urban
planning in the developing countries in the 1990s. GIS is increasingly
accessible to planners and is now an important tool for urban planning in
developed and developing countries alike.

GIS serves both as a database and as a toolbox for urban planning. Current GIS
support efficient data retrieval, query, and mapping. Planners can also extract
data from their databases and input them to other modelling and spatial
analysis programs. As a toolbox, GIS allows planners to perform spatial analysis
using geoprocessing functions such as map overlay, connectivity
measurement, and buffering.

The many benefits in using GIS in urban planning include :

1) improved mapping – better access to maps, improved map currency, more

effective thematic mapping, and reduced storage cost.

2) greater efficiency in retrieval of information

3) faster and more extensive access to the types of geographical information

important to planning and the ability to explore a wider range of ‘what if’
scenarios.

4) improved analysis.

5) better communication to the public and staff.

6)improved quality of services, for example speedier access to information for

planning application processing.

APPLICATIONS -
1) Resource Inventory- Geographical information, when integrated
with remote sensing, can save time in collecting land use and
environmental information.

2) Mapping quantities-

 People map quantities, such as where the most and least are, to find places
that meet their criteria or to see the relationships between places.Example:
below is a map of cemetery locations in Wisconsin.The map shows the
cemetery locations as dots (dot density) and each county is color coded to
show where the most and least are (lighter blue means fewer cemeteries).
 
3. Mapping densities- 

Sometimes it is more important to map concentrations, or a quantity

normalized by area or total number.  Example: Below we have mapped the
population density of Manhattan (total population counts normalized by the
area in sq. miles of census tracts.)

4. Finding what is inside-  

We can use GIS to determine what is happening or what features are located
inside a specific area/region. We can determine the characteristics of "inside"
by creating specific criteria to define an area of interest (AOI). Example: below
is a map showing a flood event and the tax parcels and buildings in the
floodway. We can use tools like CLIP to determine which parcels fall inside the
flood event. Further, we can use attributes of the parcels to determine
potential costs of property damage.

5. Finding what is nearby- 

We can find out what is happening within a set distance of a feature or event
by mapping what is nearby using geoprocessing tools like BUFFER. Example:
below we see a map of drive times from a central location in the City of
Madison, WI. We can use streets as a network and add specific criteria like
speed limit and intersection controls to determine how far a driver can typically
get in 5, 10, or 15 minutes. (Map courtesy of UW Extension)
6. Mapping change.  

We can map the change in a specific geographic area to anticipate future

conditions, decide on a course of action, or to evaluate the results of an action
or policy. Example: below we see land use maps of Barnstable, MA showing
changes in residential development from 1951 to 1999.  The dark green shows
forest, while bright yellow shows residential development.  Applications like
this can help inform community planning processes and policies.
 
7) Modelling and Projection-
A key function of planning is the projection of future population and economic
growth. GIS can be used for prediction and projection.

For example, a range of environmental scenarios can be investigated through

the projection of future demand for land resources from population and
economic activities, modelling of the spatial distribution of such demand, and
then using GIS map overlay analysis to identify areas of conflict. Using
socioeconomic and environmental data stored in GIS, environmental planning
models have been developed to identify areas of environmental concern and
development conflict

8) Plan Implementation -
GIS can be used in the implementation of urban plans by carrying out
environmental impact assessment of proposed projects to evaluate and
minimise the impact of development on the environment.