Land Evaluation Site Assessment (Lesa) GIS Application Redesign

1. Land Evaluation Site Assessment (Lesa)GIS Application Redesign Brad M. Shirey, GISP The Pennsylvania State University Master of GIS Program – Capstone Proposal Advisor: Dr. Doug Miller

2. Presentation Overview • Background • Project Objectives • Methods • Data • QAQC • Timeline • Results/Benefits • Challenges

3. Geographic & Historic Context • Where Are We? Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

4. Geographic & Historic Context Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges What is the Issue?

5. State & Regional Implications • Act 138 – Agricultural Easement Purchase Program • How Many Counties are Involved? • Statewide Facts and Figures • Over $581,000,000 Spent • Over 275,000 Acres • What Other States? Participant Counties In Red Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

6. Berks County Farmland Preservation • History of Preservation in Berks County • History of ALP Office • How Does GIS Play a Role? • Why a Change Now? 1990 1998 2008 Agricultural Conservation Easements Purchased – Farms Preserved Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

7. Land Evaluation Site Assessment (LESA) • What is it? • Who Uses it? • Why is it Used? • When Was it Built? • Who Built it? • What Platform Built on? Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

8. Project Objectives • Create New LESA Application for the Berks County Agricultural Land Preservation Office (ALP) • ESRI ArcGIS 9.3 Technology • Same Data and Scoring Procedures Used • Intuitive and Adaptable Interface • More Efficient Outputs for Analysis and Ranking • Input from ALP Staff • Proper Documentation and Training • QAQC Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

9. Project Requirements • Resolve GIS Data Needs and Program Criteria. • Needs Assessment • Client Involvement • Tackle Software and Code Problems of Legacy Application • ESRI ModelBuilder for Software Development • Application Documentation • Client Satisfaction Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

10. Assessment Criteria • What are Program Criteria? • Land Evaluation vs. Site Assessment • Why is GIS Important? • How Complex? Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

11. Software Development – Model Builder • What is it? • Ties Together Tools, Data and Analysis • Modules • Geoprocessing in Manageable Parts • Automate Python Scripting Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

12. LESA – Data Requirements • How Many Data Sets? • From Where? • Unique Information Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

13. LESA – Data Requirements • Tax Parcels and Preserved Farms • Current Applicants • Ag Security Areas • Roads and Highways • County and Municipal Boundaries • Sewer and Water Service Areas • Soils and Land Use • Cluster Areas • Historic, Scenic, and Government Lands Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

14. Quality Assurance / Quality Control • Best Practices • Ensure ALP Staff Involvement • Validate Against Legacy Application • Avoid Errors of Omission and • Outputs of Project not serving the needs of the client • Errors of Commission • Analysis steps expands beyond needs of the project Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

15. Quality Assurance / Quality Control • Module Troubleshooting • Validate Data, What are Outputs, Validate Calculations • Test Various Steps When Placed Together • Test, Modify, Re-Test • Ample Review for All Parties (Especially Non-GIS) Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

16. Timeline October 2009 – November 2009 Review Previous Software – Outline Geoprocessing Needs Assess Needs of ALP – Begin Prelim QAQC December 2009 – January 2010 Bring Modules Together – Tie to Scripting Application Documentation – Continue QAQC February 2010 – March 2010 Finalize Data – Run Test Assessment Conduct Ranking with New & Previous Version Complete Documentation April 2010 Present at AAG Conference Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

17. Anticipated Results / Benefits • Organizational Benefits • Berks County Staff Efficiency • Professional Level Software Application • User Friendly, Properly Documented. • External Benefits • Extensible to Other Preservation Programs • Personal Benefits • Building Personal Capacity and Precedent for Future Projects Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

18. Challenges • Model Builder and Python Scripting Issues • Documentation of Modules • Flexible Model Interface for Revisions • Project Timeline Background Objectives Methods Data QAQC Timeline Results/Benefits Challenges

19. References • County of Berks – Agricultural Land Preservation Office • Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Farmland Preservation • The Pennsylvania State University – Land Analysis Laboratory • ESRI – ArcGIS Desktop, ArcCatalog, ModelBuilder

20. Acknowledgements • Berks County Information Systems Department Todd Simpson, CIO • Berks County Agricultural Land Preservation Office Tami Hildebrand, Director • Berks County Planning Commission Beth Burkovich, GIS Analyst • Penn State University Dr. Doug Miller, Advisor

21. Questions ?