GIS TECHNOLOGIES IN URBAN PLANNING AND EDUCATION
1 Bojan TEPAVČEVIĆ, 2 Milan ŠIJAKOV, 3 Predrag ŠIĐANIN
Department for Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad, e mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract: GIS technology changed the way cities are planned. Software suite like ArcGIS supports complex large data analysis, simulations and management. At the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning in Novi Sad students learn how to integrate their knowledge about urban planning and architecture by using several essential components of ArcGIS. In this paper various approaches in spatial and data analysis based on GIS technology are introduced. Also several student work case studies are presented. Temporal change of urban morphology through graphs and animations and Spatial analysis of present urban structure are two major topics presented in this work. Keywords: GIS, Urban planning, City development, Time based studies, Urban structure, Spatial analysis
1. Introduction
Within last couple of years, the education of GIS at the Faculty of Technical Science, Department of Architecture, has taken more important role in subjects of planning, territorial organization and spatial and heritage protection. There are several interesting results by using ArcGIS software by students at master course. The goal of this paper is to point two possibilities to applying similar methodological framework in educational context, which has been illustrated by examples of: urban transformation and growth population of Grbavica district in Novi Sad, and finding suitable location for a Skate Park in Novi Sad . First project used methodology of temporal analysis and visualization, and second one used spatial analyst tool. Both projects present results of geo data by three aspects: 1) analysis of geo databases, 2) geo visualization as a set of interactive maps and other visualized data in relationship to time of analysis, and 3) geo processing by whom GIS enable a new possibilities by its analytical an synthetically tools by processing present data. B. TEPAVČEVIĆ, M. ŠIJAKOV et al.
2. Spatial analysis and visualization based on GIS technology in architectural education
In this paper two different approaches in using spatial and data analysis tools within ArcGIS are presented. First approach includes various tools in creating spatial analysis in order to find optimal solutions for different tasks in urban design and planning. Comprehensive set of spatial analyst tools enable users to find answers on complex and time consuming spatial problems. Second approach manages with visualization and analysis of temporal change in spatial data. Animation based spatial and data tools can be used in various aspects including: • the occurrence of events through time, (monitoring of hurricanes or precipitation, the spread of a disease, or population change), • the movement of an object, such as a car, through a landscape, or • visualizing information in multiple layers by applying transparency [1]. Examples of student work are presented to show and describe two approaches in spatial analysis and visualization in ArcGIS.
2.1. Temporal analysis and visualization of urban transformation and growth population of Grbavica, an urban fragment in Novi Sad
Grbavica is an urban fragment of Novi Sad that has experienced rapid changes in urban morphology as a reflection of rapid urban development. Grbavica is located at the former outskirts of Novi Sad, large industrial and cultural centre and capital of Vojvodina province in Serbia. Novi Sad experienced intensive urban sprawl and population growth especially in the last decade of the twentieth and the first decade of the twenty first century. Due to great increasing population in city extensive transformations of the already inhabited areas became an urge. Grbavica today represents a district which is in the process of gentrification and fast paced urban development [2]. Predominantly consisting of ground floor single family housing, Grbavica became an attractive location for the construction of multi storey housing in past 20 years, changing its urban identity and local character . Student’s semestral work “Growth population analysis in part of Grbavica urban fragment in Novi Sad” presents some aspects of rapid urban development in this part of Novi Sad [3]. In this project, urban and geo spatial data are used from “Urbanizam”, Urban Planning, Development and Research Centre. The aim of student’s research was to visualize some consequences of urban gentrification of urban fragment Grbavica such as overpopulation, lack of parking places and green surfaces. Special attention was made to animation of temporal changes in growth population in period over ten years. Temporal changes in spatial data can be visualized by various visualization techniques including multi attribute visualization, temporal visualization, comparative visualization and time varying techniques such as traditional animation [4]. Animation is commonly used to display temporally varying data. Creating animations in ArcGIS are available in ArcMap, ArcScene and ArcGlobe. Using ArcGIS animation tools spatial data can be visualized in perspective, scene properties geographical movements and temporal changes. In student’s work “Growth population analysis in part of GIS TECHNOLOGIES IN URBAN PLANNING AND EDUCATION
Grbavica“, temporal animation technique is used for visualization of changing data through the time.
Fig. 1. Growth population analysis in part of Grbavica: Alternatives in symbology representation. Above: color ramp symbology type Below: dot density symbology type
Elements in ArcGIS that can be animated through time using temporal animation includes netCDF, raster catalogue, and feature class layers. In presented work, feature class layers are animated to examine population change. Creating temporal animation requires a number of preprocessing steps that may be applied. Major step in creating temporal animation is providing date/time information in layer attribute table formatted in a certain way for use in the animation framework. Date/time formatted field in attribute table is easy way to track changes through the time without thinking about supported data table formats. Other key feature in preparing temporal animation includes symbolizing data. In other words, data should be symbolized in quantities in order to show progression of changes of time. Quantities may be represented by using graduated color maps, symbol sizes, dot densities and bar/column charts. Graduated color map quantity symbol representation are used in presented work in order to show process of increasing population up to thirty times, determined by replacing single family housing with multi–family housing. Also alternatives in symbology type are considered as shown in Fig. 1. in order to avoid inattention blindness caused by simultaneous small and local temporal changes. B. TEPAVČEVIĆ, M. ŠIJAKOV et al.
2.2 Finding suitable location for a Skate Park in Novi Sad by using spatial analyst tools
Skateboarding is relatively modern recreational activity and skill. According to American Sports Data, Inc. (ASD) there are 12.5 billion skateboarders in 2002, occupying numerous streets, sidewalks and public spaces [5]. Many cities today have specially designed and constructed skate parks for people practicing and performing on skateboards. Since the 2009 there are no specially designed skate parks in Novi Sad. Student’s master work “Optimal location for skatepark in urban tissue of Novi Sad” examines various spatial analyst tools and urban parameters in order to find optimal solution for specific task in process of urban planning and design [6]. Although skateboarding is very popular among youths in Novi Sad, there is lack of public spaces designed for this kind of street sports. There are 13 parks and nine public squares, analyzed for finding optimal location for Skate Park. Although there are more free public spaces in Novi Sad, parks and public squares with the area greater than 2000 square meters, were chosen for location of Skate Park. Also, location of bicycle pathways, specific commercial and leisure services are used in defining criterion for location. It has been decided that skate park should be located as an overlay of different spatial tasks such as: vicinity and connectedness with existing bicycle pathways, distance from nearby hotels and specific commercial and leisure services. ArcGIS Spatial Analyst tools were used in order to solve predefined spatial problem. Using spatial analyst tools enable analysis of cell based raster data, performing, integrating vector/raster analysis and deriving new information from existing data [7]. In presented work, some functionality of spatial analyst tools such as calculating Euclidean distance, reclassifying data, and overlay analysis are performed. Application of this tools and their usage in student’s work are described further in text. A distance analysis tool in ArcGIS enables different kinds of calculation including Euclidean distance, direction and allocation. Euclidean distance function is frequently used for finding nearest places from predefined location. The Euclidean distance output raster contains the measured distance from every cell to the nearest source. The distances are measured as the crow flies from the certain objects in the map. In this work, Euclidean distance is used for measuring distance from existing parks, public squares, bicycle pathways, specific commercial and leisure services. Results from first part of performing analysis consist of Euclidean distance output raster measured from mentioned objects on map as shown on fig. 2 . Reclassification function are used for changing cell values to alternative values using variety methods in order to get information that can be used for further analysis. Reclassification may be done on a single raster or with several raster to create common scale values. In process of finding optimal place for skate park, all Euclidean distance output raster are reclassified separately with the assigned values of 1 to 10 according to distance from predefined locations. Creating common scale of values is done with overlay analysis function. Overlay analysis tools is commonly used in order to combine the characteristics of several datasets into one. This approach is often used to find locations that are suitable for particular use. In many case spatial problems often require analysis of many different factors given in diverse and dissimilar inputs. Additionally, the factors of analysis may not be equally important. Weighted overlay tool enable managing with all GIS TECHNOLOGIES IN URBAN PLANNING AND EDUCATION these issues into consideration. Reclassified results can be used as input raster and weighted by importance to produce output raster overlay.
Fig. 2. Euclidean distance output raster measured from: (A) public squares, (B) parks, (C) bicycle pathways and (D) commercial and leisure services
In student’s work example, optimal location for Skate Park in Novi Sad is chosen according to overlaying reclassified raster data. For each input raster of reclassified raster map is assigned a percent of influence, based on its importance to the model. The total influence for all input raster data in weighted overlay analysis tools is equal to 100 percent. By changing values of influence defined in percents, different solutions can be achieved. Fig. 3 . represent optimal location for Skate Park according to previously defined factors and their values of influence.
B. TEPAVČEVIĆ, M. ŠIJAKOV et al.
Fig. 3. Optimal locations for Skate Park according to different influences of previously defined factors. Optimal areas are marked with the darkest color
3. Conclusion
This paper briefly described two master student’s projects at the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Technical Science in Novi Sad. The first project explained method and techniques for temporal analysis and visualization of urban transformation and growth population of Grbavica, an urban district in Novi Sad. The aim of this student’s research project was to visualize some consequences of urban gentrification of urban fragment Grbavica such as overpopulation, lack of parking places and green surfaces. Special attention was made to animation of temporal changes in growth population in period over ten years. The second project was to find suitable location for a Skate Park in Novi Sad, by using spatial analyst tools. In this research project, some functionality of spatial analyst tools are performed, such as calculating Euclidean distance, reclassifying data, and overlay analysis. The presented results introduced extended applied knowledge and importance of teaching and practicing GIS in architectural education.
Acknowledgements
The paper presents work on course subject „Representation of wider spatial environment“ at the Department of architecture, Faculty of Technical Science in Novi GIS TECHNOLOGIES IN URBAN PLANNING AND EDUCATION
Sad. Our students Marko Jovanovic, Dimitrije Bugarski and Ivana Marcijuš are highly acknowledged for their intellectual enthusiasm and contribution. This research was supported by the Serbian Ministry of Science and Technological Development (project no. TR36042)
References
[1] Bajwa H, Willison J. Animation in ArcMap Tutorial, ArcGIS 9.3 tutorial , ESRI 2005–2008. [2] Nedučin D, Carić O, Kubet V. Influences of gentrification on identity Shift of an urban fragment a case study, SPATIUM International Review, No. 21, December 2009 , pp. 66 75. [3] Jovanović M, Bugarski D. Analiza porasta broja stanovnika na Području dela Grbavice u Novom Sadu, seminal work for course subject Representation of wider spatial environment , 2010. [4] Shanbhag P, Rheingans P, desJardins M. Temporal Visualization of Planning Polygons for Efficient Partitioning of Geo Spatial Data, IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 23 25 October, 2005, pp. 211 218. [5] Fetto, J. Your Questions answered statistics about skateboarders, (2002) American Demographics Retrieved 2006 12 13 [6] Marcijuš I. Optimal location for Skate Park in urban tissue of Novi Sad, Master work at Faculty of Technical Sciences, Novi Sad, 2010. [7] An overview of spatial Analyst in ArcGIS Desktop 9.3 Help http://webhelp.esri.com/9.3/index.cfm?TopicName=An_overview_of_Spatial_Analyst (accessed: 15. August 2011)