Urban Growth Projects
City of Avondale
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Challenge
Positioning these new additions in relation to surrounding neighborhoods while creating minimal disruptive impact, dispelling the community’s misconceptions and maximizing decision-making by helping envision the proposed reconfiguration, the Avondale city council needed a more precise two–dimensional approximation of the finished project.
Solution
Enter Decision Theater. Utilizing our unique visualization facility, the Decision Theater held a visioning workshop for the Avondale city council. Taking architectural renderings and aerial photography, our talented staff built and presented a model of the proposed city reconfiguration on seven screens in stereo 3D. Immersed in DT’s model, the council was able envision the proposed city center while “toggling” through potential options such as height and positioning. Using ThinkTank software, Decision Theater facilitated and recorded the council’s discussion.
Results
The 3D model allowed the council to share a common vision of their future city center, address their concerns, and confront obstacles they had not foreseen. In addition, The DT-created model has been exported to GoogleEarth, so that the public may view the proposed project for approval and use in future planning of the city.
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Town of Gilbert
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Challenge
The historic water tower in the town of Gilbert has been recently restored, and is located in Gilbert’s Heritage District on an empty plot of land. Gilbert’s redevelopment commission recently decided to design a community park around it.
Solution
The Decision Theater team constructed the future park in 3D virtual reality. The visualization reflects the design of the redevelopment commission.
Results
This enabled a collaborative discussion of how the park would best benefit the community and be an asset to neighboring businesses and residences. They created a plan for a park attractive to surrounding businesses and suitable for public events.
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Litchfield Park
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Challenge
Developers frequently face the challenge of creating an accurate understanding of development proposals. This was the first public/private-sponsored project undertaken by the Decision Theater, and it centered on a developer’s proposal for a mixed-use commercial, retail and residential community in the city. The city was concerned about proposed building heights and impact on residential areas, and the developer wanted to provide a realistic model to accurately convey the proposal.
Solution
Developer-provided models were integrated with digital imagery, including draping over the buildings for texture, to create an accurate geo-referenced visualization rich in detail. The model highlighted trees and open spaces in order to accurately convey the character of the proposed development.
Results
The clients were able to exchange views while looking at a visualization that facilitated a common understanding of the proposal, both the benefits and concerns. The neutral setting inspired increased collaboration.
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Brown Cloud
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Challenge
The weather phenomenon known as “brown cloud” exists as a cloud of pollution that occurs during the summer and winter months in Maricopa County.
Solution
The Decision Theater and Dr. Joe Fernando worked together to create a 3D visualization that involves data mapping and transfer function generation to show an animation of brown cloud movement.
Results
This project has demonstrated the potential of 3D volume data mapping, with special regard to data that changes over time.
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Morrison Institute for Public Policy
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Challenge
The ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy sought the Decision Theater’s visualization support for an upcoming report on the Arizona Sun Corridor, one of the 10 future “Megapolitan” areas in the U.S. The Morrison Institute is working in collaboration with the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech, which conducted the Megapolitan study and coined the term “Sun Corridor.”
Solution
The Decision Theater is using its technology to depict the report’s data in a form that helps facilitate a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with this type of growth.
Results
The visualization will assist government officials and others as they explore planning policies needed to address these massive growth corridors, everything from transportation requirements to environmental concerns. It will help stimulate public policy thinking and decision making.
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City of Surprise
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Challenge
The city of Surprise requested assistance in their efforts to address land use issues in conjunction with an update of their General Land Use Plan.
Solution
The Decision Theater hosted the city council for a collaboration workshop. The council discussed the vision for general land use, such as its desire to create open spaces. The Decision Theater subsequently used a geographic information tool, called Community Viz, to create “what if” scenarios for land use decisions regarding set-backs from washes and housing density.
Results
This project is helping the city council in its efforts to create a land use plan reflecting their vision for the future.
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City of Tempe
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Challenge
As a city that continues to experience significant development, land use planning remains critical to smart growth.
Solution
The Decision Theater created a 3D geographically accurate model of the city to aid in growth planning.
Results
City officials have used the model to visualize buildings that have been proposed, permitted, or are under construction in order to see their impact on the area. They’ve also used the model to visualize and adopt building height restrictions. It has facilitated increased understanding, collaboration, and informed decision making.
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City of Mesa
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Challenge
The city of Mesa was evaluating a land use plan in a 32-square-mile area adjacent to the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. But what land usage would be compatible with an operating airport? Safety and noise issues generated by passenger and cargo aircraft needed to be addressed.
Solution
ASU’s Decision Theater integrated flight safety contours, average flight paths and land use plans into its seven-screen, 3D visualization. Noise contours for an MD80 and a Boeing 757 were used to create an animation demonstrating noise levels along their flight paths. Ambient street and aircraft sound clips were mixed and played over the sound system.
Results
The Theater afforded the spatial and auditory context for a large area that examined a mix of uses. This scientific analysis dispelled misperceptions and allowed council members, planning and zoning officials and stakeholders to make objective decisions and direct planners for continued study of appropriate land uses.
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