Planning Skills
At Appalachian State, Geography courses are combined with Planning courses, which provide a well-rounded view of GIS in different circumstances. Planning courses have also taught me the value of informed community decisions and how my knowledge of Planning with GIS can influence my local community. Community and Regional Planning is a different field than GIS, but there are several circumstances where these two disciplines are helpful when combined.
​
My experience in Planning includes:
-
analyzing and interpreting the Unified Development Ordinance of Boone, North Carolina
-
attending Town Council meetings and understanding local government operation
-
assessing neighborhood connectivity with visual neighborhood comparison
-
determining the appropriateness of directions and sign placement by comparing "mental maps" of a location
-
evaluating another town's Comprehensive Plan and how a Comprehensive Plan is written
-
creating and developing a Transfer of Development Rights program for Boone, NC, if a program was included for Boone
-
analyzing data and creating Population Pyramids within Excel
-
developing a Population Forecast with Excel
-
analyzing and determining the sustainability of an organization's current Energy System
-
completing surveys of a street audit and food accessibility for a given area
Transfer of Development Rights
Given the task of evaluating the possibility of a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program in Boone, North Carolina, I developed a scenario in which the planning tool of a TDR would be applicable.
The course, Land, Property and Law, provided insight into the legalities and logistics of community planning. I gained knowledge of a locality's rights from the state and federal levels and its power.
​
The TDR scenario presented below is a scenario I created of how TDR can be applied in Boone.
Population Pyramids
These population pyramids were created using Excel and acquiring American Community Survey data. By taking the Planning Techniques course, I have learned how to use Excel as a data template tool to create population pyramids.
In planning, population pyramids are useful tools to understand what portion of the population is growing and what city developments are needed to accommodate this growing population.
Population Forecasting Using Excel
Utilizing 7 different estimation and projection techniques, I have learned how to use Excel to create population forecasting. This tool is imperative to planning because if an estimate is created determining the population growth of an area, planners can understand and initiate plans to account for the growth.
The estimation and projection methods used:
-
Linear
-
Geometric
-
Parabolic
-
Modified Exponential (assumed and calculated growth limit)
-
Gompertz
-
Logistic
​
I used these methods to evaluate population growth for Washington County, Tennessee. The PDF presented below is an assessment of the methods, and a written evaluation of the population forecasting results.
Sustainability Evaluation
A partnership between Appalachian State University and the Patterson School Foundation resulted in a collaboration of projects with the Inside the Sustainable City course.
The Patterson School Foundation was once a former school and is now a staple of the Caldwell County community as an education center and a source for incubator farming.
​
The task presented was to evaluate the Patterson School Foundation (PSF) systems regarding the
Three E's of Sustainability Planning.
The systems were evaluated based on the application of Environment, Economics, and Equity.
​
The final report presented below is a group project evaluation of the Energy System at PSF.
An additional project was tasked in the Inside the Sustainable City course to choose a city and evaluate the city's sustainability. Exploring the Comprehensive Plan, conducting research, and analyzing the latest news were essential in determining a city's effective sustainability measures.
I choose to explore Asheville, North Carolina, and wrote the following sustainability evaluation and created the presentation illustrating Asheville's sustainability measures.
​
Similar to the above evaluation, Asheville, North Carolina, was evaluated for Sustainability following the Three E's of Sustainability Planning.
The city was evaluated based on the application of Environment, Economics, and Equity.
​
Street Audits and Food AvailabilityÂ
In regards to the current COVID-19 pandemic, a street audit and food availability audit were completed in an area of choice, most preferably the city of residence. I completed a street audit, assessing walkability and bikeability of the Downtown area of Mountain City, Tennessee. Further, I completed an evaluation of food availability, analyzing areas of access for fresh produce, meals, and the number of food businesses.
The PDFs presented below are evaluations I completed of Mountain City, Tennessee regarding street and food accessibility audits.
​