Exploiting Parcel-Level GIS for Land Use Modeling

Abstract

This paper describes the use of parcel-level data in the development of UrbanSim, the Oregon Prototype Metropolitan Land Use Model, and its application to the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area 4 . The exploding use of Geographic Information Systems to map and manage tax parcel databases is a widely noted trend, but these massive databases have yet to be fully exploited in the development of new land use and transportation models. This paper explores a case study in the exploitation of a parcel-level GIS database in Lane County, and its integration with a business establishment inventory, to develop an internally consistent disaggregate database for use in calibrating the Oregon Prototype Metropolitan Land Use Model. The focus of the paper is on the challenges involved in using data of this level of spatial detail, and on the analysis that has been done to develop these data for use in the land use model.