Urban growth simulator Work Book
Content
http://empact.geog.kent.edu/
Self-Guided Workbook
Copyright 2001 Applied Geography Laboratory, Kent State University
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Self-Guided Workbook
Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 The Web Site ....................................................................................... 4 Guided Simulation 1.................................................................. 10
What is Urban Growth Simulation? ......................................................................... 1 What is the Urban Growth Simulator? ..................................................................... 3 How Can I Get Urban Growth Simulator? ................................................................ 3 The Front Page ..................................................................................................... 4 Select County ........................................................................................................ 5 Select Township .................................................................................................... 6 The Simulation Interface........................................................................................ 7 Inputs................................................................................................................. 10 Start Simulation................................................................................................... 10 Saving Results..................................................................................................... 12 Explanation ......................................................................................................... 15 Challenge............................................................................................................ 15 i
Applied Geography Laboratory
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 2.................................................................. 16
Inputs................................................................................................................. 16 Start Simulation................................................................................................... 17 Saving Results..................................................................................................... 19 Explanation ......................................................................................................... 20 Challenge............................................................................................................ 20 Inputs................................................................................................................. 21 Start Simulation................................................................................................... 22 Saving Results..................................................................................................... 24 Explanation ......................................................................................................... 25 Challenge............................................................................................................ 25 Inputs................................................................................................................. 26 Start Simulation................................................................................................... 27 Saving Results..................................................................................................... 29 Explanation ......................................................................................................... 30 Challenge............................................................................................................ 30 Shape-Files ......................................................................................................... 31 If You Need Help................................................................................................. 31
Guided Simulation 3.................................................................. 21
Guided Simulation 4.................................................................. 26
Extra.............................................................................................................. 31
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Introduction
What is Urban Growth Simulation?
Development of an urbanized area is a long-term process that not only takes a long time to proceed but also is an irreversible process. To evaluate if future pattern of an urbanized area is what we desired or what we hope for, simulating urban growth is one of the few efficient ways to allow us to peek into the future. Urban Growth Simulation is a way to simulate how an urbanized area will grow in the future given a few assumptions about whether current conditions will continue, whether any new policies will be implemented, or whether any limits to growth will be enforced. Specifically, urban growth simulation produces build-out scenarios for a given urban area so that graphic, visual representation of the future of the urban area can be produced for urban planners, researchers, or the concerned citizens to view and research as a reference for further actions to their cities. With the Urban Growth Simulator, accessible via http://empact.geog.kent.edu/, anyone can simulate how his or her community will change into the future. This is done by giving estimated numbers of new units of residential, commercial, or industrial activities in the selected community to produce simulated growth. The results of the simulation are displayed in map format as well as tabulated report of how such growth affects our environment. From these simulations, one can easily assess if growth is desirable or to what degree the growth should be allowed. In simulating urban growth, a number of growth management strategies can be incorporated. These strategies include actively avoiding new development in critical natural areas (CNA), avoiding new development in farmlands, requiring new development to keep more lands for open space, limiting new development inside a growth boundary with a growth center. Each growth management strategy produces different results that affect the growth, subsequently impact the environment. Applied Geography Laboratory 1
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Specifically, critical natural areas (CNA) include areas of wetlands, areas of steep slopes, areas within floodplains, areas surrounding endangered or threatened species of animals or plants, or areas designated as environmentally sensitive areas. Actively avoiding new development in these areas means that permits for new development will not be granted if the proposed development falls within these areas. New developments often are asked to cut down their lot sizes for individual residential uses or other uses so that more lands can be reserved as open space. Furthermore, new development can be limited to a growth boundary with or without a growth center so to make development as compact as possible. The assumption is that a compact development reduces the impact of urban sprawl. Finally, a few words should be given here to explain how the urban growth is simulated. We assume that estimates of urban growth are done by urban planners, government officials, or citizens as a realistic picture of how the urban area is expected to be in the future. The estimation of growth is issued as the number of units of residential, commercial, or industrial uses. The sizes of these units should be specified to assist the simulation. Also, separating these units to frontage (new development along road blocks) and to clusters (new development clustered in a subdivision). As a result of simulation, graphic display of simulated development will be displayed. It can also be saved in a data format for uses in geographic information systems or computer mapping packages. In addition, the acreages of CNA and farmlands affected by simulated development will be outputted as indication of how the environment is affected.
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
What is the Urban Growth Simulator?
The Urban Growth Simulator is a web-enabled program that performs simulation with various urban growth strategies. The current version of this program covers data sets from 15 northeast Ohio county regions, and uses growth strategies such as Avoid Critical Nature Areas, Growth Boundary/Center, OpenSpace, etc.
How Can I Get Urban Growth Simulator?
The Urban Growth Simulator is a program that runs in your Internet browser. This means you will need Internet connection in order to run this program. Since most processing is done on our server, you don’t have to have a very powerful computer to run the program. A regular PentiumTM class computer with a 56Kbps modem connection should meet the minimum requirements. The program is available online at http://empact.geog.kent.edu/. This site is only tested on MicrosoftTM Windows 98TM with MicrosoftTM Internet ExplorerTM version 5 (IE5) and above, so please try to use IE5 to launch the site.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
The Web Site
The Front Page
When you log on to this web site, the following front page will come up
Notice that there is a screen width tester rule on this page. Your computer must have the required width to run the Simulator; otherwise, the map will not be displayed entirely, and you might not be able to see some controls on the Simulator also. Go ahead and press the START THE SIMULATOR button.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Select County
The next screen is the county selection page. It has currently 15 counties in northeast Ohio.
Note that some of the counties do not have up-to-date data sets, and some even have incomplete datasets. Therefore, with those counties, the simulation result might not be realistic or accurate. For this workbook, we are going to use Summit County dataset, so go ahead and select Summit.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Select Township
Now that you have selected the county, it’s time to select a township within this county. A similar page like the county selection page comes up when you selected Summit Country.
On the left is a list of townships inside Summit County, and on the right is a map of Summit County with townships highlighted in different colors. For this workbook, let’s select Tallmadge Township from the list.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
The Simulation Interface
As soon as you click the township name, another window would pop-up. This is the simulation interface. Let’s get familiarized with this interface.
Sections of the Interface
1. Text-input area to type in the numbers for the projected developments 2. Checkboxes to unable/disable different growth strategies 3. Buttons to start, save, reset, and exit the simulation 4. Navigation bar to navigate around the map 5. The map area
4 1
2
3 5
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook You might want to try the HELP button or the LEGEND button to get some explanation of the information you are looking at. Click the HELP button, and another window will pop up. Most terminologies are explained here. Click EXIT to close this window.
Click the LEGEND button, and another window will pop up.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook The legend of map is shown, and you can compare the colors of different legend with the map, and see what color is what. Since we have not run any simulation yet, there are no New developments. Click EXIT to close this window. Now let’s try to use the navigation bar on top of the map.
With the Zoom In selected move your mouse pointer to the center of the map and click once. The map is enlarged. Click on the map again, the map is enlarged further. You can use this feature to have a closer look at the map. Select the Pan option on the navigation bar, and click on the map, but this time choose an area that’s close to the side of the map. Map view will pan (move) in the direction you clicked. Try this couple times. Now, select the Zoom Out option, and click on the center of the map. Map view will shrink the map in order to show a larger area. Do this until you can see the entire map again. We will use the Pick Growth Center option for later simulations, so just leave it as is for now.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 1
Inputs
Now, let’s try our first simulation. Enter the numbers shown in the following figure, and do not check any checkbox in the GROWTH STRATEGIES section.
Start Simulation
Double check the numbers carefully, and click the START button to start the simulation. The processing screen will come up, like it says, the simulation may take up to several minutes, so just sit back, relax, and wait for the simulation to complete. During this process, DO NOT close or minimize the window, as it will interrupt the simulation.
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook After a few minutes, the simulation interface will come back, but with a new map.
Click the LEGEND button, compare the colors, and see what have been newly developed.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Saving Results
It took a while to get this result, let’s save it. Click the SAVE RESULTS button. Again, the process screen will come up. In some cases, this process might take even longer than the simulation, so just wait and see. A new page will come up after the process is done.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
This is re results page with Statistics and Downloadable files. As can be seen here, there are a total of 1,296 acres of new developments simulated. The impact of these new developments includes losing 201.5 acres of farmlands and losing 6 acres of critical natural areas. For environmental groups, this simulation provides a way to know how much impact will be resulted from new developments. For farm land preservation groups, this simulation provides an estimate of how much farm lands are lost because of the developments. To save the simulation, click on the three links in the “Simulated Layer” section. For each link, click the *.shp, *.shx, or *.dbf link. A dialog will pop up.
Select “Save this file to disk” and click OK.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook Another dialog will pop up. DO NOT change the file name. Select a folder and Click “Save”.
Download process will start. Depends on the speed of your Internet connection, this time may vary.
Repeat this process to save all three files for simulated layers.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Explanation
Let’s take another look on the result page. How many acres of farmlands are lost? How many acres of critical natural areas are lost? Together, can you provide an estimate of how environment is impacted?
Challenge
Try the following input. Even the total area of development is the same, see if there is any difference in the results. If yes, why? Residential Commercial Industrial Cluster 0 0 0 Frontage 1000 100 40 Lot Size 1 2 2.5
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 2
Inputs
Let’s try to put some spin to the first simulation. Reset the simulation by clicking the RESET button. Select the Pick Growth Center option on the navigation bar Type 1.8 in the radius box Click on the map where several streets meet at a circle
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
You have just defined a growth boundary! The simulation will now run only inside this boundary. Enter the numbers shown in the following figure, and do not check any checkbox in the GROWTH STRATEGIES section.
Start Simulation
Double check the numbers carefully, and click the START button to start the simulation. The processing screen will come up. Like before, this will take up to several minutes. DO NOT close or minimize the window, as it will interrupt the simulation.
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook After a few minutes, the simulation interface will come back with a new map.
Click the LEGEND button, compare the colors, and see what have been newly developed. As expected, the developments only happen inside the growth boundary.
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Saving Results
Click the SAVE RESULTS button. The process screen will come up. In some cases, this process might take even longer than the simulation. The result page will come up after the process is done.
You can save the simulated layer like you did in the first simulation. Applied Geography Laboratory 19
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Explanation
Let’s take another look on the result page. Again, examine the acreages of lost farmlands and critical natural areas. Can you provide an estimate of how the environment is impacted by the new developments?
Challenge
Try to pick out another growth center and use a different radius to run this simulation again. Compare the results. Always remember to reset the simulation before running a new one.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 3
Inputs
Onto the next one. Reset the simulation by clicking the RESET button. Enter the numbers shown in the following figure, and check the Use Open Space Growth Model, and Avoid Critical Nature Area (CNA) in the GROWTH STRATEGIES section.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Start Simulation
Double check the numbers carefully, and click the START button to start the simulation. The processing screen will come up. DO NOT close or minimize the window, as it will interrupt the simulation.
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook After a few minutes, the simulation interface will come back with a new map.
Click the LEGEND button, compare the colors, and see what have been newly developed. Since the Open Space strategy is on, there is less space used for the new developments. You can compare this map to the result map in the first simulation.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Saving Results
Click the SAVE RESULTS button. The process screen will come up, and the result page will come up after the process is done.
You can save the simulated layer like you did in the first simulation.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Explanation
Because the Avoid Critical Nature Area is on, the CNA lost is “0”. But there are still farmlands lost. How many acres of farmlands are lost? Is that enough for you to assess the impact by the new developments to the environment?
Challenge
Try to run this simulation with only Avoid Critical Nature Area on. Compare the results with the result of first simulation. Then run this simulation with only Use Open Space Growth Model on. Compare the results with the result of first simulation. Always remember to reset the simulation before running a new one.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 4
Inputs
Ok, here comes the grand finale. Reset the simulation by clicking the RESET button. Enter the numbers shown in the following figure, and check the Use Open Space Growth Model, and Avoid Critical Nature Area (CNA) in the GROWTH STRATEGIES section.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook Select the Pick Growth Center option on the navigation bar. Type 1.8 in the radius box. Click on the map where several streets meet at a circle.
Start Simulation
Double check the numbers carefully, and click the START button to start the simulation. The processing screen will come up. This time it might take longer than before since we have more options turned on, so just wait for the simulation to complete. Applied Geography Laboratory 27
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook After a few minutes, the simulation interface will come back with a new map.
Click the LEGEND button, compare the colors, and see what have been newly developed. Since the Open Space strategy is on, there is less space used for the new developments. And as expected, the developments only happen inside the growth boundary. You can compare this map to the result map in the second simulation. Applied Geography Laboratory 28
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Saving Results
Click the SAVE RESULTS button. The process screen will come up, and the result page will come up after the process is done.
You can save the simulated layer like you did in the first simulation.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Explanation
Because the Avoid Critical Nature Area is on, the CNA lost is “0” acres. With growth managed by implementing a growth boundary, all new developments are simulated to be inside the designated growth boundary. This way, the future of the urbanized area is ensured to be more compacted, which helps to preserve open space outside of the growth boundary.
Challenge
Try to turn on other GROWTH STRATEGIES such as Avoid Farm Land, in combination with the ones you have tried. Compare the results. Always remember to reset the simulation before running a new one.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Extra
Shape-Files
The files you have downloaded are called Shape Files. This format is created by a company called Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) who is specialized in mapping software. These file contain information about the map you have created with the Urban Growth Simulator, such as lines and polygons, which represent roads and buildings, and tables of data that record detailed information of each shape. You can open these saved files with most of their software products, such as ArcExplorer or ArcView. A free copy of ArcExplorer is available from ESRI’s web site at http://www.esri.com/
If You Need Help
If you need help or have questions about this workbook, the Simulator, and/or Urban Growth Simulation, you can contact the Applied Geography Laboratory at Kent State University. Via Mail: Applied Geography Laboratory Department of Geography Kent State University, Kent OH 44242 [email protected] (330) 672-2231, (330) 672-3222 31
Via E-mail: Via Phone: Applied Geography Laboratory
Copyright 2001 Applied Geography Laboratory, Kent State University
Self-Guided Workbook
Copyright 2001 Applied Geography Laboratory, Kent State University
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Self-Guided Workbook
Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 The Web Site ....................................................................................... 4 Guided Simulation 1.................................................................. 10
What is Urban Growth Simulation? ......................................................................... 1 What is the Urban Growth Simulator? ..................................................................... 3 How Can I Get Urban Growth Simulator? ................................................................ 3 The Front Page ..................................................................................................... 4 Select County ........................................................................................................ 5 Select Township .................................................................................................... 6 The Simulation Interface........................................................................................ 7 Inputs................................................................................................................. 10 Start Simulation................................................................................................... 10 Saving Results..................................................................................................... 12 Explanation ......................................................................................................... 15 Challenge............................................................................................................ 15 i
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 2.................................................................. 16
Inputs................................................................................................................. 16 Start Simulation................................................................................................... 17 Saving Results..................................................................................................... 19 Explanation ......................................................................................................... 20 Challenge............................................................................................................ 20 Inputs................................................................................................................. 21 Start Simulation................................................................................................... 22 Saving Results..................................................................................................... 24 Explanation ......................................................................................................... 25 Challenge............................................................................................................ 25 Inputs................................................................................................................. 26 Start Simulation................................................................................................... 27 Saving Results..................................................................................................... 29 Explanation ......................................................................................................... 30 Challenge............................................................................................................ 30 Shape-Files ......................................................................................................... 31 If You Need Help................................................................................................. 31
Guided Simulation 3.................................................................. 21
Guided Simulation 4.................................................................. 26
Extra.............................................................................................................. 31
Applied Geography Laboratory
ii
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Introduction
What is Urban Growth Simulation?
Development of an urbanized area is a long-term process that not only takes a long time to proceed but also is an irreversible process. To evaluate if future pattern of an urbanized area is what we desired or what we hope for, simulating urban growth is one of the few efficient ways to allow us to peek into the future. Urban Growth Simulation is a way to simulate how an urbanized area will grow in the future given a few assumptions about whether current conditions will continue, whether any new policies will be implemented, or whether any limits to growth will be enforced. Specifically, urban growth simulation produces build-out scenarios for a given urban area so that graphic, visual representation of the future of the urban area can be produced for urban planners, researchers, or the concerned citizens to view and research as a reference for further actions to their cities. With the Urban Growth Simulator, accessible via http://empact.geog.kent.edu/, anyone can simulate how his or her community will change into the future. This is done by giving estimated numbers of new units of residential, commercial, or industrial activities in the selected community to produce simulated growth. The results of the simulation are displayed in map format as well as tabulated report of how such growth affects our environment. From these simulations, one can easily assess if growth is desirable or to what degree the growth should be allowed. In simulating urban growth, a number of growth management strategies can be incorporated. These strategies include actively avoiding new development in critical natural areas (CNA), avoiding new development in farmlands, requiring new development to keep more lands for open space, limiting new development inside a growth boundary with a growth center. Each growth management strategy produces different results that affect the growth, subsequently impact the environment. Applied Geography Laboratory 1
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Specifically, critical natural areas (CNA) include areas of wetlands, areas of steep slopes, areas within floodplains, areas surrounding endangered or threatened species of animals or plants, or areas designated as environmentally sensitive areas. Actively avoiding new development in these areas means that permits for new development will not be granted if the proposed development falls within these areas. New developments often are asked to cut down their lot sizes for individual residential uses or other uses so that more lands can be reserved as open space. Furthermore, new development can be limited to a growth boundary with or without a growth center so to make development as compact as possible. The assumption is that a compact development reduces the impact of urban sprawl. Finally, a few words should be given here to explain how the urban growth is simulated. We assume that estimates of urban growth are done by urban planners, government officials, or citizens as a realistic picture of how the urban area is expected to be in the future. The estimation of growth is issued as the number of units of residential, commercial, or industrial uses. The sizes of these units should be specified to assist the simulation. Also, separating these units to frontage (new development along road blocks) and to clusters (new development clustered in a subdivision). As a result of simulation, graphic display of simulated development will be displayed. It can also be saved in a data format for uses in geographic information systems or computer mapping packages. In addition, the acreages of CNA and farmlands affected by simulated development will be outputted as indication of how the environment is affected.
Applied Geography Laboratory
2
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
What is the Urban Growth Simulator?
The Urban Growth Simulator is a web-enabled program that performs simulation with various urban growth strategies. The current version of this program covers data sets from 15 northeast Ohio county regions, and uses growth strategies such as Avoid Critical Nature Areas, Growth Boundary/Center, OpenSpace, etc.
How Can I Get Urban Growth Simulator?
The Urban Growth Simulator is a program that runs in your Internet browser. This means you will need Internet connection in order to run this program. Since most processing is done on our server, you don’t have to have a very powerful computer to run the program. A regular PentiumTM class computer with a 56Kbps modem connection should meet the minimum requirements. The program is available online at http://empact.geog.kent.edu/. This site is only tested on MicrosoftTM Windows 98TM with MicrosoftTM Internet ExplorerTM version 5 (IE5) and above, so please try to use IE5 to launch the site.
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
The Web Site
The Front Page
When you log on to this web site, the following front page will come up
Notice that there is a screen width tester rule on this page. Your computer must have the required width to run the Simulator; otherwise, the map will not be displayed entirely, and you might not be able to see some controls on the Simulator also. Go ahead and press the START THE SIMULATOR button.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Select County
The next screen is the county selection page. It has currently 15 counties in northeast Ohio.
Note that some of the counties do not have up-to-date data sets, and some even have incomplete datasets. Therefore, with those counties, the simulation result might not be realistic or accurate. For this workbook, we are going to use Summit County dataset, so go ahead and select Summit.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Select Township
Now that you have selected the county, it’s time to select a township within this county. A similar page like the county selection page comes up when you selected Summit Country.
On the left is a list of townships inside Summit County, and on the right is a map of Summit County with townships highlighted in different colors. For this workbook, let’s select Tallmadge Township from the list.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
The Simulation Interface
As soon as you click the township name, another window would pop-up. This is the simulation interface. Let’s get familiarized with this interface.
Sections of the Interface
1. Text-input area to type in the numbers for the projected developments 2. Checkboxes to unable/disable different growth strategies 3. Buttons to start, save, reset, and exit the simulation 4. Navigation bar to navigate around the map 5. The map area
4 1
2
3 5
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook You might want to try the HELP button or the LEGEND button to get some explanation of the information you are looking at. Click the HELP button, and another window will pop up. Most terminologies are explained here. Click EXIT to close this window.
Click the LEGEND button, and another window will pop up.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook The legend of map is shown, and you can compare the colors of different legend with the map, and see what color is what. Since we have not run any simulation yet, there are no New developments. Click EXIT to close this window. Now let’s try to use the navigation bar on top of the map.
With the Zoom In selected move your mouse pointer to the center of the map and click once. The map is enlarged. Click on the map again, the map is enlarged further. You can use this feature to have a closer look at the map. Select the Pan option on the navigation bar, and click on the map, but this time choose an area that’s close to the side of the map. Map view will pan (move) in the direction you clicked. Try this couple times. Now, select the Zoom Out option, and click on the center of the map. Map view will shrink the map in order to show a larger area. Do this until you can see the entire map again. We will use the Pick Growth Center option for later simulations, so just leave it as is for now.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 1
Inputs
Now, let’s try our first simulation. Enter the numbers shown in the following figure, and do not check any checkbox in the GROWTH STRATEGIES section.
Start Simulation
Double check the numbers carefully, and click the START button to start the simulation. The processing screen will come up, like it says, the simulation may take up to several minutes, so just sit back, relax, and wait for the simulation to complete. During this process, DO NOT close or minimize the window, as it will interrupt the simulation.
Applied Geography Laboratory
10
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook After a few minutes, the simulation interface will come back, but with a new map.
Click the LEGEND button, compare the colors, and see what have been newly developed.
Applied Geography Laboratory
11
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Saving Results
It took a while to get this result, let’s save it. Click the SAVE RESULTS button. Again, the process screen will come up. In some cases, this process might take even longer than the simulation, so just wait and see. A new page will come up after the process is done.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
This is re results page with Statistics and Downloadable files. As can be seen here, there are a total of 1,296 acres of new developments simulated. The impact of these new developments includes losing 201.5 acres of farmlands and losing 6 acres of critical natural areas. For environmental groups, this simulation provides a way to know how much impact will be resulted from new developments. For farm land preservation groups, this simulation provides an estimate of how much farm lands are lost because of the developments. To save the simulation, click on the three links in the “Simulated Layer” section. For each link, click the *.shp, *.shx, or *.dbf link. A dialog will pop up.
Select “Save this file to disk” and click OK.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook Another dialog will pop up. DO NOT change the file name. Select a folder and Click “Save”.
Download process will start. Depends on the speed of your Internet connection, this time may vary.
Repeat this process to save all three files for simulated layers.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Explanation
Let’s take another look on the result page. How many acres of farmlands are lost? How many acres of critical natural areas are lost? Together, can you provide an estimate of how environment is impacted?
Challenge
Try the following input. Even the total area of development is the same, see if there is any difference in the results. If yes, why? Residential Commercial Industrial Cluster 0 0 0 Frontage 1000 100 40 Lot Size 1 2 2.5
Applied Geography Laboratory
15
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 2
Inputs
Let’s try to put some spin to the first simulation. Reset the simulation by clicking the RESET button. Select the Pick Growth Center option on the navigation bar Type 1.8 in the radius box Click on the map where several streets meet at a circle
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
You have just defined a growth boundary! The simulation will now run only inside this boundary. Enter the numbers shown in the following figure, and do not check any checkbox in the GROWTH STRATEGIES section.
Start Simulation
Double check the numbers carefully, and click the START button to start the simulation. The processing screen will come up. Like before, this will take up to several minutes. DO NOT close or minimize the window, as it will interrupt the simulation.
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook After a few minutes, the simulation interface will come back with a new map.
Click the LEGEND button, compare the colors, and see what have been newly developed. As expected, the developments only happen inside the growth boundary.
Applied Geography Laboratory
18
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Saving Results
Click the SAVE RESULTS button. The process screen will come up. In some cases, this process might take even longer than the simulation. The result page will come up after the process is done.
You can save the simulated layer like you did in the first simulation. Applied Geography Laboratory 19
Kent State University
Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Explanation
Let’s take another look on the result page. Again, examine the acreages of lost farmlands and critical natural areas. Can you provide an estimate of how the environment is impacted by the new developments?
Challenge
Try to pick out another growth center and use a different radius to run this simulation again. Compare the results. Always remember to reset the simulation before running a new one.
Applied Geography Laboratory
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 3
Inputs
Onto the next one. Reset the simulation by clicking the RESET button. Enter the numbers shown in the following figure, and check the Use Open Space Growth Model, and Avoid Critical Nature Area (CNA) in the GROWTH STRATEGIES section.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Start Simulation
Double check the numbers carefully, and click the START button to start the simulation. The processing screen will come up. DO NOT close or minimize the window, as it will interrupt the simulation.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook After a few minutes, the simulation interface will come back with a new map.
Click the LEGEND button, compare the colors, and see what have been newly developed. Since the Open Space strategy is on, there is less space used for the new developments. You can compare this map to the result map in the first simulation.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Saving Results
Click the SAVE RESULTS button. The process screen will come up, and the result page will come up after the process is done.
You can save the simulated layer like you did in the first simulation.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Explanation
Because the Avoid Critical Nature Area is on, the CNA lost is “0”. But there are still farmlands lost. How many acres of farmlands are lost? Is that enough for you to assess the impact by the new developments to the environment?
Challenge
Try to run this simulation with only Avoid Critical Nature Area on. Compare the results with the result of first simulation. Then run this simulation with only Use Open Space Growth Model on. Compare the results with the result of first simulation. Always remember to reset the simulation before running a new one.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Guided Simulation 4
Inputs
Ok, here comes the grand finale. Reset the simulation by clicking the RESET button. Enter the numbers shown in the following figure, and check the Use Open Space Growth Model, and Avoid Critical Nature Area (CNA) in the GROWTH STRATEGIES section.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook Select the Pick Growth Center option on the navigation bar. Type 1.8 in the radius box. Click on the map where several streets meet at a circle.
Start Simulation
Double check the numbers carefully, and click the START button to start the simulation. The processing screen will come up. This time it might take longer than before since we have more options turned on, so just wait for the simulation to complete. Applied Geography Laboratory 27
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook After a few minutes, the simulation interface will come back with a new map.
Click the LEGEND button, compare the colors, and see what have been newly developed. Since the Open Space strategy is on, there is less space used for the new developments. And as expected, the developments only happen inside the growth boundary. You can compare this map to the result map in the second simulation. Applied Geography Laboratory 28
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Saving Results
Click the SAVE RESULTS button. The process screen will come up, and the result page will come up after the process is done.
You can save the simulated layer like you did in the first simulation.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Explanation
Because the Avoid Critical Nature Area is on, the CNA lost is “0” acres. With growth managed by implementing a growth boundary, all new developments are simulated to be inside the designated growth boundary. This way, the future of the urbanized area is ensured to be more compacted, which helps to preserve open space outside of the growth boundary.
Challenge
Try to turn on other GROWTH STRATEGIES such as Avoid Farm Land, in combination with the ones you have tried. Compare the results. Always remember to reset the simulation before running a new one.
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Urban Growth Simulator Workbook
Extra
Shape-Files
The files you have downloaded are called Shape Files. This format is created by a company called Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) who is specialized in mapping software. These file contain information about the map you have created with the Urban Growth Simulator, such as lines and polygons, which represent roads and buildings, and tables of data that record detailed information of each shape. You can open these saved files with most of their software products, such as ArcExplorer or ArcView. A free copy of ArcExplorer is available from ESRI’s web site at http://www.esri.com/
If You Need Help
If you need help or have questions about this workbook, the Simulator, and/or Urban Growth Simulation, you can contact the Applied Geography Laboratory at Kent State University. Via Mail: Applied Geography Laboratory Department of Geography Kent State University, Kent OH 44242 [email protected] (330) 672-2231, (330) 672-3222 31
Via E-mail: Via Phone: Applied Geography Laboratory
Copyright 2001 Applied Geography Laboratory, Kent State University
