Geospatial solutions allow us to gather large datasets that describe our world so that we can analysis, classify, and represent what is occurring in the real world. Many of these datasets can be directly used in your planning projects through the implementation of suitability models. Ultimately, geospatial tools use data that help us visualize characteristics about an area to help understand how its complex systems interact. Main topics include development, land use, water resources, transportation, outdoor recreation, and environmental protection.

We can use geospatial technologies to plan for various types of projects that leverage technology in human-landscape analysis. We can also use architectural renderings to illustrate/animate attributes through artistic design of a proposed land use project prior to its implementation to obtain input from facilitation sessions.

Below is a list of geospatial solutions grouped by impact along with descriptive applications within the field:

Socio-Ecological Solutions

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Sustainable Development

Land Use/ Land Cover Analysis, Resource Management, Conservation Planning, Biodiversity Functionality, Ecosystem Protection, Land Records/Parcels

Reclamation & Restoration

Wildlife Management, Soil Suitability, Moisture Retention, Recreation, Optimal Sites for Wind/Solar, Reforestation and Agriculture

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Flow/Runoff & Slope/Aspect

Solar radiation, Landslide/Erosion Detection, Flood runoff flow rate/direction, Watershed Management, Geological Hazards, Geosphere Change Detection such as Surface Mining, High Accuracy LIDAR

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Inventory

Tree Species Classification, Other Vegetation Identification

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Biomass Biodiversity

Biomass Estimation, Forest Health/Restoration, Carbon Sequestration Estimations, Invasive or Endangered Species

Leak Detection

Oil/Gas Leak Detection, Other Environmental Disturbances Effected Along Path

Socio-Economic Solutions

Hazard Mitigation

Wetland Zoning, Emergency Preparedness, Stormwater Runoff, Drinking Water Contamination Risk Monitoring

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Community Involvement

Story Maps, Community Based Surveys, Data Dashboards, Crowdsourced Data

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Emergency Preparedness

Disaster Response, Relief, Recovery, Future Mitigation Understanding Marine/Shoreline/Wetland Vulnerabilities

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Density Control

Mixed Use, Land Protection, Transportation-Commuter Workforce Flow, Communal Gathering Space, Access to Opportunities/Services, Human Health Factors

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Physical Infrastructure

Surveying, Modeling, & Engineering Dams, Bridges, Tunnels, Buildings, Sewer/Water Utilities, and other man-made Infrastructure

Virtual Planning

LIDAR Technology for 3-Dimensional Building Models for Remote, Virtual Access to the Local Experience

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Transit Oriented Development

Civil Engineering Highways, Tunnels, and Bridges & Land Use Planning to Improve Accessibility Health Related Services

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Air Traffic Control

Airport Master Planning, Noise studies

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Electricity Monitoring

Electricity and Telecom Capacity, Critical Infrastructure, Records of Issues/Energy Usage Monitoring, Grid-Tie Implementation,

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Field Work Productivity

Drone2Map App and Survey123 App by ESRI

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Market Competitiveness

Commercial/Industry Business Site Locations