System and method for semi-automatic land planning

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention includes a land planning tool that maybe used to perform a variety of land planning tasks. The land planning tool may interpret global information systems (GIS) electronic data in conjunction with user-specified constraints to analyze and display a development site, visually indicating developable areas. The user may then use a pen-based device to sketch outlines of land planning objects. As the user sketches, the land planning tool may generate vector geometry stored in an electronic database for use by a variety of computer aided design tools.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 916,531, filed on May 7, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention generally relates to computer software. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for semi-automatic land planning.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]The term land planning generally refers to the process of allocating natural resources, such as land and water, for specific uses within a development project. The goal of the land planning process is typically to create a land development plan that maximizes return on investment, satisfies regulatory requirements, is sustainable, and at the same time, has adequate aesthetic qualities to attract people to the development. The land planning process often entails balancing a host of competing concerns including, for ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]One embodiment of invention includes a method for a land planning tool to analyze a development site. This method may generally include receiving geographic information system (GIS) data describing the development site and retrieving one or more development constraints. The development constraints may specify, for example, a maximum slope that a given area of the development site may have to be included in the net buildable area, a project boundary surrounding the development site, or a minimum buffer surrounding a region of the development site excluded from the net buildable area. This method may generally further include determining a net buildable area of the development site, based on the GIS data and the one or more development constraints, generating a display of the development site, and presenting the display of the development site to a user. The display may highlight the net buildable areas of the development site, as determined from the GIS data and the development constraints. Advantageously, as the user interacts with the land planning tool, the tool may evaluate the user input in conjunction with the GIS and constraint data to provide real time feedback, thereby allowing the user to rapidly evaluate different land-use choices.

[0011]Another embodiment of the invention includes a method for processing raster input supplied to a land planning tool. This method may generally include generating a graphical display representing a development site, presenting the graphical display of the development site to a user, and receiving the raster input. The raster input may be drawn on the graphical display to specify a bounded region of the development site. For example, a touch sensitive screen or mouse cursor may be used. This method may also include generating vector geometry based on the raster input and associating the vector geometry with a land planning object. The vector geometry may describe a position and a shape of the bounded region of the development site, and the land planning object may represent a given land use. Once associated with the land planning object, the bounded region may be used to represent a portion of the development site to be dedicated to the given land use. The graphical display of the development site may be updated to include a representation of the vector geometry. Advantageously, providing real-time feedback as the user sketches on a display of the development site allows the user to rapidly evaluate different land-use choices. Furthermore, the land planning tool may store the vector geometries associated with the land planning objects as part of the land development plan in an electronic land planning database, thereby facilitating updates and communication with other CAD tools.

Problems solved by technology

One drawback to this approach to land planning is that it time consuming and expensive to create and accurately evaluate different land-use possibilities for a given development project.

Moreover, if a stakeholder requests a change, the land planning process may need to be repeated at least once and perhaps multiple times. Another drawback to this approach is that the design contractor may need to recreate the land development plan in a CAD tool each time the design changes in order to efficiently perform the detailed design of the development project.

Recreating the land development plan in this fashion is both error-prone and tedious.

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