The GeoGreen Mapper provides access to over forty map layers of green infrastructure and green living and to important related countywide studies. Users can interactively create their own maps on the web picking and choosing what layers to use. Pictures, web sites, and descriptive information are all integrated with each map layer. Some of the map layers are regulatory, such as the preservation lands, others can be created online by the users. A few map layers are updated in real time on the web as part of the county's daily operations. All map layers are grouped into three main categories:
- Green Pathways, such as scenic roads, trails, bicycle paths and bicycle facilities, low speed roads, etc.
- Conservation and Recreation, such as preservation lands, strategic ecosystems, priority ecological areas, champion trees, etc.
- Green and Cultural Preservation Living, such as farmer markets, plant nurseries, recycle centers, thrift stores, libraries, historic structures, historic markers, bike stores, parks and gardens, natural food stores, etc.
GeoGreen also displays for the first time in the history of Alachua County, locations of Solar Panel permits issued over the years. The Solar Panel map layer updates in real time while county staff issues Solar Permits as part of their building permitting operations.
GeoGreen is a database driven participatory web Mapper. It provides for public input in registering and mapping of Green Buildings, connecting live to the Alachua County's building permits database. Anyone from the public can enter a permit number and then either upload an image of their Green Building Certificate or enter other information that shows green features used in their building. After the upload of this information, they can immediately view their Green Building location plotted live on GeoGreen. Upon the validation of this information by county staff, the location of this Green Building becomes part of the countywide Green Buildings map layer. This process provides for the creation of uniquely valuable information which has never existed in Alachua County. Furthermore, this is made possible with almost no county resources, as the data is being created by the public. The Green Buildings interface is located at http://cpd.alachuacounty.us/cdweb/permitting/green/.
A number of important countywide studies relevant to Green Living, are also integrated with the GeoGreen Mapper. These studies include a Bicycle Master Plan, a Recreation Master Plan, a Waterways Master Plan, a study from the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, etc.
Conscious that Internet penetration, according to the latest study from the PEW Center, has not yet reached more than 73% of the American adults, we decided to also develop a brochure version of the GeoGreen and make it available in paper and online at: http://maps.alachuacounty.us/geogreen/greenmapalachuacounty.pdf.
Background
An Energy Conservation Strategies Commission was created in Alachua County and it was tasked "To draft a comprehensive report on energy use, its relationship to climate change and local socio-economic impacts, including actions that can be implemented by the Board of County Commissioners and the community at large." This decision followed resolution 07-18, on March 27, 2007, where the Alachua County Commission expressed that it "...
wants to do its part to reduce or mitigate the effects of Global Climate Change and promote the long-term economic security of its citizens through the implementation of policies that enhance energy efficiency..." Inspired by this effort, we felt it was our duty to provide spatial framework data in support of policy decisions related to these activities, by pulling together digital green community resources in an open and centralized location via an interactive map.
For example, one of the recommendations of the final report of the Energy Conservation Strategies Commission is to create connected districts with low speed roads that would accommodate neighborhood electric cars. Other future recommendations could involve the designation of green districts and green neighborhoods, and so on. The GeoGreen Mapper hosts all of the necessary map layers which would support these types of designations with sound spatial information. By making these data openly available to anyone, in an easy way, we have facilitated not only accessibility but also overlay analysis for both the decision makers and the public at large.
GeoGreen has been designed to be used by residents of all ages and backgrounds interested in local green resources and in how they overlay. They could be community groups and grass root organizations active in conservation practices, county advisory boards of various missions, teachers and students, developers, re-developers, home owner builders, realtors and lenders, advocates of affordable housing and poverty reduction, and Alachua County staff.
Alachua County with a population of approximate 250,000 is also home to the University of Florida. The University of Florida has a student population of around 50,000. Close to four thousand of these students are international visitors who come to live in the US for the first time. Every year as new students and visitors join our community, the GeoGreen brochure will make a contribution in guiding them towards green local resources, as it will be delivered along with other informational community resources from offices at the University of Florida and Tourism.
Progress and Results
The GeoGreen Mapper, along with all of the map layers that it contains, were conceived, developed, and implemented in-house, by the GIS Division. We employed a Participatory Design approach and during the entire process of the development of the project we made its users active participants in its design. Expert input was also solicited from many types of expertise and areas of specialization.
In developing GeoGreen, the GIS Division, has utilized existing software and hardware infrastructure, using the Netflix model. The work was entirely absorbed by the GIS staff and no outsourcing occurred. GeoGreen has been developed with an Open Technology approach. It relies heavily on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) which is available to anyone free of charge and which subscribes to the General Public License (GPL). This approach has saved significant upfront acquisition costs, has eliminated yearly license and maintenance costs for its lifetime, and it has made possible it's re-utilization by other local governments and agencies.
The problems that GeoGreen addresses go beyond the limits of Alachua County and are applicable at least nationwide. The technology solutions that we provide make it possible for us to share this product with other local governments at minor cost to them. As GeoGreen is non proprietary, we would be happy to share it with any other agency.
The GeoGreen Mapper facilitates and maximizes public access to green information to create a foundation for better governance and transparency in decisions about sustainability. Because of its e-participatory nature, it also engages the community in taking ownership of its products and thus increases the legitimacy of its status.
Juna Papajorgji is GIS manager in the Growth Management Department, Board of Commissioners, Alachua County, Florida
8, on March 27, 2007, where the Alachua County Commission expressed that it "...wants to do its part to reduce or mitigate the effects of Global Climate Change and promote the long-term economic security of its citizens through the implementation of policies that enhance energy efficiency..." Inspired by this effort, we felt it was our duty to provide spatial framework data in support of policy decisions related to these activities, by pulling together digital green community resources in an open and centralized location via an interactive map.
For example, one of the recommendations of the final report of the Energy Conservation Strategies Commission is to create connected districts with low speed roads that would accommodate neighborhood electric cars. Other future recommendations could involve the designation of green districts and green neighborhoods, and so on. The GeoGreen Mapper hosts all of the necessary map layers which would support these types of designations with sound spatial information. By making these data openly available to anyone, in an easy way, we have facilitated not only accessibility but also overlay analysis for both the decision makers and the public at large.
GeoGreen has been designed to be used by residents of all ages and backgrounds interested in local green resources and in how they overlay. They could be community groups and grass root organizations active in conservation practices, county advisory boards of various missions, teachers and students, developers, re-developers, home owner builders, realtors and lenders, advocates of affordable housing and poverty reduction, and Alachua County staff.
Alachua County with a population of approximate 250,000 is also home to the University of Florida. The University of Florida has a student population of around 50,000. Close to four thousand of these students are international visitors who come to live in the US for the first time. Every year as new students and visitors join our community, the GeoGreen brochure will make a contribution in guiding them towards green local resources, as it will be delivered along with other informational community resources from offices at the University of Florida and Tourism.
Progress and Results
The GeoGreen Mapper, along with all of the map layers that it contains, were conceived, developed, and implemented in-house, by the GIS Division. We employed a Participatory Design approach and during the entire process of the development of the project we made its users active participants in its design. Expert input was also solicited from many types of expertise and areas of specialization.
In developing GeoGreen, the GIS Division, has utilized existing software and hardware infrastructure, using the Netflix model. The work was entirely absorbed by the GIS staff and no outsourcing occurred. GeoGreen has been developed with an Open Technology approach. It relies heavily on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) which is available to anyone free of charge and which subscribes to the General Public License (GPL). This approach has saved significant upfront acquisition costs, has eliminated yearly license and maintenance costs for its lifetime, and it has made possible it's re-utilization by other local governments and agencies.
The problems that GeoGreen addresses go beyond the limits of Alachua County and are applicable at least nationwide. The technology solutions that we provide make it possible for us to share this product with other local governments at minor cost to them. As GeoGreen is non proprietary, we would be happy to share it with any other agency.
The GeoGreen Mapper facilitates and maximizes public access to green information to create a foundation for better governance and transparency in decisions about sustainability. Because of its e-participatory nature, it also engages the community in taking ownership of its products and thus increases the legitimacy of its status.
Juna Papajorgji is GIS manager in the Growth Management Department, Board of Commissioners, Alachua County, Florida
Figure 1 - Overview
Figure 2 - A farmers market.
Figure 3 - Solar Panels
Figure 4 - Green Building Registration for the Public
Figure 5 - Green Building Registration - form 1
Figure 6 - List of Registered Green Buildings
