Regional Planning, Greenhouse Gases, and UrbanFootprint open source software

DATE: 
Friday, January 31, 2014, 12:00pm to 1:00pm PST
SPEAKERS: 
Garlynn Woodsong, Calthorpe Associates

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Summary: Since about 2008, the planning world has been experiencing a paradigm shift that began in places like California and Oregon that have adopted legislation requiring the linking of land use and transportation plans to outcomes, specifically to the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs). In response to this need, Calthorpe Associates has developed a new planning tool, called UrbanFootprint, on a fully Open Source platform (i.e. Ubuntu Linux, PostGIS, PostGreSQL, etc.). As a powerful and dynamic web and mobile-enabled geo-spatial scenario creation and modeling tool with full co-benefits analysis capacity, UrbanFootprint has great utility for urban planning and research at multiple scales, from general plans, to project assessments, to regional and state-wide scenario development and analysis. Scenario outcomes measurement modules include: a powerful ‘sketch’ transportation model that produces travel and emissions impacts; a public health analysis engine that measures land use impacts on respiratory disease, obesity, and related impacts and costs; climate-sensitive building energy and water modeling; fiscal impacts analysis; and greenhouse gas and other emissions modeling.

Bio: Garlynn Woodsong is a Project Manager in the regional and large-scale master planning team at Calthorpe Associates. His focus is on using sophisticated scenario planning tools to help regions and jurisdictions develop integrated land use and transportation plans, and to quantify the effects of those plans on outcomes, including multiple indicators, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. He is a geographer and urban planner with more than 14 years of experience in transportation, land use, and regional and corridor planning and policy. His work and experience ranges from transit-oriented development, bicycle transportation planning, regional transportation policy and funding, to the use of GIS technology to support smart growth and regional planning efforts.

http://www.calthorpe.com/garlynn-woodsong