The standard in land use planning software and services, CommunityViz(TM) from The Orton Family Foundation is ready to showcase its improvements this week at the American Planning Association National Conference in Chicago.
Designed for community planning and natural resource management applications, CommunityViz(TM), which utilizes GIS software technology, is a powerful decision-support framework comprised of three software components:
- CommunityViz(TM) Scenario Constructor(TM) provides a rich set of impact analysis capabilities, featuring the functionality of a “spatial spreadsheet” that can perform multiple numerical computations on geographic data in real time. Scenario Constructor(TM) allows users to create maps, charts, and reports showing alternative scenarios based upon information contained within the GIS enterprise systems and other assumptions.
- CommunityViz(TM) SiteBuilder 3D(TM) enables users to build photo-realistic, three-dimensional, interactive models of geographic data. Once built, the models allow virtual “fly-through” and exploration, giving people the ability to visualize land-use proposals and to interactively change the modelled environment. Scenarios created with Scenario Constructor(TM) are then draped on the 3D canvas and depicted as a “virtual community.”
- CommunityViz(TM) Policy Simulator(TM) is a forecasting model using agent-based modeling techniques to simulate likely future impacts of present-day governmental and regulatory policies. Forecasts depicted in Scenario Constructor(TM) allow for innovative comparison and analysis of alternative policies.
The new release, 1.3 will feature a wide range of improvements based on input from a growing existing user community.
Faster, Easier Data Entry and Packaged Scenarios
The newest release will come with a “Quick Start” package for the Scenario Constructor(TM) module that includes land use scenarios that provide immediate solutions to common planning issues. The Quick Start package includes pre-packaged computations that can be applied directly to the users local data, right out of the box. The improved Policy Simulator(TM) module will include a new “Data Manager” that supports faster data entry and preparation. Also new in the upcoming release is the “Simulation Manager” that provides for easy and fast querying of multiple scenario projections.
Improved 3D Visualization
The new version of CommunityViz(TM) will also include an updated terrain generation engine improving on its already cutting edge visualization module, SiteBuilder 3D. With an optional add on component, users will be able to model their own buildings to be used in visualizing development scenarios and, in the new version, export their virtual reality fly-through sequences to an industry standard digital movie format.
