Data-Driven Illustrations for Climate Smart Communities Scenarios

Public investment in transit and streetscape improvements can encourage private development, and subsequently increase transit ridership and reduce pollution. Portland, Oregon’s Metro regional government has developed investment scenarios designed to reduce light vehicle carbon emissions. Adopting a regional scenario requires public review and consultation with local governments who will implement the comprehensive plans and land-use regulations. Decision makers and residents need to understand potential benefits: ways in which targeted investment could generate more livable urban spaces while reducing greenhouse gases. Illustrations can show how the investments could shape the pedestrian experience through trees, street furniture, buildings, open spaces, etc. This report explains a new workflow to illustrate urban development possibilities that can be adjusted according to evolving forecasts. Developing accessible scenario illustrations from city and regional planning forecasts requires sound analysis and thoughtful graphics to effectively communicate the analysis results. This workflow connects planning forecasts (incorporating economic, transportation and land development data) to a parametric urban modeler to generate development massing, with views refined with 3D and 2D graphic procedures. The objective has been to streamline the creation of visuals that communicate community development patterns and amenities provided with different levels of investment. A streamlined procedure allows different designers to generate illustrations with a consistent graphic style. The report documents the workflow, and identifies challenges, opportunities and questions for further work.

• Record URL:
  http://ppms.trec.pdx.edu/media/project_files/Cheng_728_Final_combined.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://nitc.trec.pdx.edu/research/project/728
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Oregon, Eugene

  Department of Architecture, 210 Lawrence Hall
  1206 University of Oregon
  Eugene, OR  United States  97403-1206

  Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium

  P.O. Box 751
  301A Engineering Building
  Portland, OR  United States  97207

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  University Transportation Centers Program
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Cheng, Nancy
  • Ellis, Kim
  • Vogt, Molly
  • Brendel, Ericka
  • Chiavarini, Clint
  • Houk, Justin
  • Postma, Boyce
  • Lockyear, Brian
  • Morell, Peggy
• Publication Date: 2013-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 36p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Forecasting; Graphics; Information dissemination; Pollutants; Public transit; Regional planning; Software; Sustainable development; Urban development; Visual aids
• Geographic Terms: Portland (Oregon)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01641407
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: OTREC-SS-728
• Files: UTC, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 24 2017 9:53AM