What elements in a development make it the most sustainable? This is a question that AECOM seeks to understand with their Sustainable Systems Integration Methodology (SSIM), presented on the second day of the GeoDesign Summit. The objective is to be more quantitative rather than subjective. Some of the performance metrics that SSIM evaluates are the amount of energy used, water use, land use mix, density, projected costs, natural areas, habitat connectivity, carbon emissions, density of rooftops, etc.
The map template function in ArcGIS 10 has made the process and customization of this approach much easier for AECOM to implement. With nested hierarchies, and detailed metrics and parameters, the level of spatial analysis of this solution is quite impressive. With any amenity it is matched to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and weighted based on its delivery of necessity for life.
A transit-oriented development was displayed, with an understanding of the population that have access to the transportation hub, access to parks, building energy, and carbon emissions. Emissions is specifically an issue in California, where there are mandates that must be met.
There are sliders within the system to weight different dynamics via real-time sliders for different top-level outcomes such as density or energy efficiency. This dynamic means to rank different planning scenarios aids collaboration, as the weight of metrics can be displayed for multiple scenarios at the same time.
The cost-benefit analysis is the ultimate funnel for all of this work, determining the most cost-effective strategies with the best performance for the least amount of money. When strategies are identified, the model presents a good, better and best strategy based on baseline, with incremental cost increases based on these different strategies. A key strength is that it combines water, energy, transportation, ecosystem services, green building and socio-cultural elements all within one system and view that takes a “gameboard” approach. You can sketch, test with feedback, refine with adjustments, reevaluate, decide
AECOM’s global reach was on display with examples of projects in the United States, Singapore, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Mandates within California gave the organization an impetus to look at citywide scale issues of greenhouse gas emissions, as a means to evaluate ways to incentivize reductions among stakeholders. The GIS-based approach enabled the integration of multiple systems for optimum “bang for the buck” for high performance land planning.
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