Using GIS for Collaborative Land Use Compatibility Planning Near Airports (2019)

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1 Airports are important economic generators for the communities they serve, and provide significant economic impacts through the generation of jobs on and off airport as well as access to the national transportation system. Despite these benefits, airports are often in locations desirable for developers seeking to contribute to the economic growth and vitality of the com- munity. Federal, state, and local governments have substantial public investments in the airport and in the land use in communities surrounding airports to ensure the needs of the community and local economy are met. There can be a natural tension between airports and local decision makers faced with bal- ancing planned development opportunities while ensuring the operational environment sur- rounding the airport is safe and efficient. As a result, it is important for both the airport and local decision makers to ensure property near airports accommodates compatible land use while considering existing and planned development. Airport and government officials can help by planning and developing compatible land uses around airports, considering agricultural, com- mercial, and industrial uses around airports instead of sensitive residential, educational, or public gathering uses. Compatible land use planning considers the operational environment of the airport— particularly safety, such as obstructions to navigable airspace, lighting, and visibility or loss of situational awareness—and potential hindrances such as aircraft noise, increased emissions, and congestion. It is vital for airport planning and community planning practitioners to seek opportunities and technologies that enable the potential for cooperation and collaboration in planning and development on and off-airport property. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) help overcome these challenges by addressing the technical and analytical aspects of land use planning and facilitating stakeholder collaboration and communication. GIS consists of geographic information, software and hardware designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical informa- tion. Geographic indicates some portion of the data is spatial and referenced to locations on the earth. GIS is more than just software. Users utilize a combination of geospatial software and tools to enable spatial analysis, manage large datasets, and display information in the form of maps or datasets. GIS enables problem-solving and decision making processes and enhances visualization of data in a spatial environment. These tools also improve provision of data in standardized for- mats that can be easily converted for use across multiple technology platforms and analytical toolsets. Geospatial data analysis assists to determine the location of features and relationships to other features, where the feature exists, density of features in a given space, what occurs in specific areas of interest, and how locations have changed over time. The benefits of GIS have not been fully realized with airport land use compatibility planning near airports due to lack of Introduction

2 Using GIS for Collaborative Land Use Compatibility Planning Near Airports familiarity with the software, the significant amount of data required, apparent and real costs associated with data collection and data maintenance, and perceptions of the complex nature of technical analyses. Research Objective and Approach The objective of this research is to identify what land use compatibility challenges can effec- tively be addressed with GIS data and software, to develop an understanding of constraints to leveraging GIS, and to provide guidance to help practitioners overcome those constraints. The goal is to be able to effectively apply GIS as a collaborative tool to address land use compatibil- ity planning needs. This problem was originally identified (and submitted to the ACRP) by an organization that had successfully done so and felt that similar organizations could benefit from the guidance on how GIS can be used, where to obtain the data necessary, and how to overcome technical challenges. A literature search was conducted to identify existing sources and build upon the results of related research conducted on airport land use challenges and GIS data sharing among public agencies. In addition, airport and community planners as well as other stakeholders took part in an on-line survey. Similar stakeholders were interviewed by phone and via participation in relevant conferences. Organizations that have effectively used GIS for land use compatibility planning were identified for case studies that were developed to convey successful approaches to other practitioners. A more focused survey and follow up focus group with users of an on-line GIS application developed by the South Carolina Aeronautics Commissions (one of the case studies) was also conducted. The preliminary research resulted in a prioritization of land use impacts most relevant to a broad set of airports that could be effectually addressed with GIS. The data, capabilities, soft- ware, and hardware needed to effectively apply GIS was also identified through further investiga- tion of the case study organizations. In addition, literature identified earlier in the project was referenced to identify data needs and sources of GIS land use applications. This information was organized and summarized to create this guidebook. Intention of this Guidebook The objective of this research is to give guidance to overcome constraints that prevent GIS from being more extensively and effectively used for land use compatibility planning around airports. Using GIS as a collaboration tool can help protect safety, health, quality of life, and public investments related to airport land use in or near their jurisdictions. This guidebook provides direction to airport and community planners to leverage GIS as a method to collaborate as they plan future development and to encourage cooperation and understanding. It also provides technical details that will help GIS analysts collect data and implement GIS software in a manner that supports effective land use compatibility planning around airports. Technical details provide guidelines for data development that include helpful attributions and insight into sensitivities recommended for specific feature types. Additional descriptions point to available data sources and offer recommendations for procurement of services and maintenance of data. Finally, functional requirements and dissemination for GIS technologies are also presented, specific to land use compatibility needs, to help enable the collaboration process.

Introduction 3 Target Audience The target audience for this guidebook includes airport and community planners, govern- ment leadership and management, and the GIS analysts and technicians who can help with data development, implementation, software selection, and geospatial analysis to build the founda- tion to effectively collaborate and plan for solutions related to land use compatibility challenges around airports. Communities and airports have a broad range of governance relationships, statutes and reg- ulations, organizational constructs, technological sophistication, funding prioritizations, and planning for economic development. Thus, the characterizations in the guidebook should serve as the starting point to garner more specific information from local airport planning and local government planning departments, and to determine the feasibility of geospatial collaboration and identify gaps where further data development is required. Because successful collaboration will depend upon the diverse variables in play for each individual airport, local government, and stakeholder organization, this guidebook has been designed to cover broad topics such as governance, data development, and software specifica- tions, while also providing case studies to illustrate specifically how successful collaboration has worked for land use compatibility challenges near airports. Document Organization This guidebook is organized into seven chapters, references, and several appendices. Begin- ning at a high level, aimed at multiple audiences, the guidebook steadily dives into broad tech- nical descriptions applicable to initialize local community and airport collaboration using GIS technologies. A general summary of each chapter is described below: • Chapter 1: Government, Airport Planning, and GIS Touchpoints: This chapter provides a general overview of the organizational structures and roles of federal, state, and local govern- ment; the typical airport planning process; and highlights land use planning considerations— pointing to critical touchpoints between an airport and the community it serves. Areas where GIS can effectively be applied give airport and community planners a sense of the role GIS technology can play and GIS professionals a sense of where they can help. • Chapter 2: Airport Land Use Compatibility Concerns: This chapter examines the key land use compatibility concerns, including: aircraft noise, obstructions to navigable airspace, hazard- ous wildlife, air quality, congestion of surface transportation, subsurface utilities, operational safety in populated areas, and various types of interference. The effects on the airport, the community, and other stakeholders and the causes of these effects are examined. • Chapter 3: Benefits of GIS for Land Use Compatibility Planning: This chapter identifies benefits of using GIS to address the concerns of incompatible land use around airports in a collaborative manner among stakeholders. Benefits occur when users of the GIS data and software can accomplish tasks they would otherwise do more efficiently (i.e., less time and money expended with the same or better results) or they can accomplish tasks they otherwise could not that improve their effectiveness in completing their objective. • Chapter 4: Using GIS: This chapter helps planners learn how to use GIS data and software to visualize, analyze, and communicate land use concerns and to make decisions that promote the optimal use of the land around airport(s). It also includes a description of organizational and regulatory factors that influence using GIS for land use collaboration. • Chapter 5: Data Development Guidelines: This chapter identifies the types of data required to address specific land use concerns. It also includes a basic primer on data development

4 Using GIS for Collaborative Land Use Compatibility Planning Near Airports principles, methodologies, and processes. Technical specifications including the extent, accu- racy, frequency of update, level of attribution, and sensitivity are recommended for each data type. This section also offers available data sources and tips from procuring services to collect data, as well as recommendations related to data maintenance procedures. • Chapter 6: Software Specifications: This chapter lists functional requirements that should be met to address the airport land use compatibility needs expressed by airport and regional planners. These requirements can guide the procurement and configuration of GIS software that can fulfill these requirements. • Chapter 7: Dissemination Methods: This chapter identifies the range of options that exist for deploying GIS data and capabilities to the stakeholders who need it. This includes methods for developing static maps and exhibits, as well as options for deploying dynamic content onto desktops, client-server applications, modern cloud-based web services, and crowd sourcing applications. • Conclusions: This conclusion highlights the most important findings of our research and summarizes the benefits GIS can offer for airport land use compatibility planning. • References: This section includes references to material cited in this guidebook, along with web links to on-line documents, where available. • Appendices: Some portions of the appendices include text introduced in the chapters to retain concise information while providing further context from additional information elucidated in supplementary detail for each topic. The purpose is to provide practitioners in one arena, with limited knowledge of another arena, the ability to learn about another area or topic from an information overview perspective. In doing so, the intent is to enable enhanced col- laboration by appreciating other roles and responsibilities or by diving into the details where successes have occurred. The following appendices have been included to provide additional detail on the information and concepts introduced in the chapters of the guidebook: – Role of Government – A Brief History of FAA Aeronautical Surveys – Case Studies � South Carolina Aeronautics Commission � Metropolitan Airports Commission � Kansas City International Airport � Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport � Puget Sound Regional Council – Guidance on and Samples of Data Sharing Agreements