Project Examples: Water & Environmental Planning

Decision Support

Lex Ivey, President

COMPANY BACKGROUND

TerraCognito GIS Services, Inc.

• Founded in 2004 by Lex Ivey

– Professional Services Consultant at CommunityViz (Boulder, CO)

• 2002 - 2004

– GIS Manager at Otak (Carbondale & Denver, CO)• 1998 - 2002• Extensive beta testing of CommunityViz in 2000

– B.A. Degree cum laude in Geography, Biology & Environmental Conservation (1995 University of Colorado at Boulder)

GROWTH MODELING/IMPACT ANALYSISPotential failed septic fields at 2031 Highly vulnerable aquifers

Potential septic-related groundwater threats at 2031

Regional Growth Modeling and Groundwater Protection Analysis, 2007Client: British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Canada TerraCognito was hired by the to model the impacts of future development scenarios on groundwater resources and provide CommunityViz software training to multiple city and county planners in Canada’s Okanagan Valley. Using assessor records, septic permits, cadastral, and hydrologic data, TerraCognito mapped and quantified the ages of all septic systems in the regional district. Then a build-out analysis and residential land use allocation was performed to generate future land use scenarios based on current zoning. This was overlaid on vulnerable aquifers mapping to map and measure potential threats to groundwater resources over a 25-year period.

Eagle County Build-Out Analysis and Visualization, 2008-2010Client: Eagle County, ColoradoTerraCognito worked directly with Eagle County, Colorado and the municipalities of Avon, Basalt, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff and Vail to perform a county-wide spatial-temporal build-out analysis and 3D visualization. Using ArcGIS and CommunityViz, a detailed existing conditions analysis of dwelling units was performed based on assessor and census data, followed by a numeric, spatial and visual build-out analysis of existing zoning as well potential future land use described in the municipalities’ Master Plans. An elaborate visioning exercise was implemented for the unincorporated county using multi-criteria analysis and preference mapping to drive future growth scenarios. Later phases of work included an economic component including a commercial build-out analysis, existing jobs distribution, future jobs allocation and impact analysis. Finally, the results were delivered in Google Earth format for viewing by the both the planners and the public.

GROWTH MODELING/IMPACT ANALYSIS

Data & Process Flow for Multi-criteria AnalysisBase Data Derived Data Calibrated Data Simple Average

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Impact Analysis Animation (1970-2051)

Development Preference Model Customized Google Earth Visualization

AQUIFER VULNERABILITY MODEL

DRASTIC Fm ImplementationClient: Geologic Survey of CanadaTerraCognito’s Lex Ivey implemented the migration of the client’s existing aquifer vulnerability model (DRASTIC Fm) to CommunityViz to allow dynamic, real-time modeling updates. The model’s parameters of depth to water table (D), recharge areas (R), aquifer media (A), slope values (S), soil types (T), impact of vadose zone (I), hydraulic conductivity (C) and fractured media (Fm) could be rated and weighted using CommunityViz lookup tables and slider bars. This approach decreased the time required to run the model by a factor of ten. More importantly the ratings for each parameter value as well as the weighting of each value can be interactively changed by the users. Because it is built on a standard aquifer vulnerability modeling framework, this implementation can be used in other geographic locations and modified to the specific conditions in that area.

DRASTIC Fm model layers

DRASTIC Fm implemented in CommunityViz

DAM REMOVAL VISUALIZATIONElwha River Dam Removal VisualizationClient: American Rivers NGOTerraCognito modeled two proposed dam removals on the Elwha River in Washington’s Olympic National Park. TerraCognito created interactive, photo-realistic, 3D visualization of existing conditions, as well as various stages of dam removal, including draw-down, riverbed restoration, and re-vegetation. The visualizations were used extensively by American Rivers throughout the settlement negotiation process and in meetings with legislators, ultimately resulting in the impending removal of the Glines Canyon and Elwha dams. Commencing in 2011, the dismantling of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams will allow the river to flow freely for the first time in 100 years, restoring over 70 miles of salmon and steelhead habitat.

random color ramp

hillshade raster

photo-real sediment texture

Existing conditions Dam removal / Reservoir draw down Restored river channel

office: 303-258-3515mobile: 303-808-3420

lexivey@terracog.comwww.terracog.com