Planning Systems & Solutions

Planning clearly covers a range of areas and topics – from local neighbourhood planning and design; regional economic and spatial planning; national strategic planning and socioeconomic analysis; transport planning and modelling at all scales; and development planning including public consultation. In these and other areas the capabilities of geographic technologies fit well with the requirements of planning, consultation, and effective decision making:

• Providing methods for effective information sharing – making data available in a form that is accessible, interpretable, updateable
  …supporting data exchange among planners and decision makers, and supporting public engagement.

•  Providing data in a form that facilitates integration with other data, and analysis and scenario modelling
  ...delivering the ability to fully characterise an area or region and join map and operational (production, financial, output, population, transport data) together

•  Having tools to hand for efficient and accurate data creation and capture at a reasonable cost
  ...enabling the collection and update of on-the-ground data effectively and providing current data that delivers greater confidence in decision making.

•  Developing skills to utilise, maintain and support these functions and systems
  ...building in-house capabilities for longer term operation of mapping and reporting systems and helping to ensure buy-in by a range of users.

In all these areas and services, Compass have delivered projects, provide expert services, and have developed products. Some of these include -

Journey Time Modelling

Working with the Dublin Transport Office, precursor of the current National Transport Authority, Compass undertook a network modelling and data analysis project to model minimum journey times for a series of centres across the Dublin area. This work involved creation of a road and walking network and modelling of walk and public transport times in a detailed and iterative manner. The end result was a software solution that the National Transport Authority makes active us of, and data and surface mapping that clearly present journey times and also population catchments for key regional centres.

Data Capture for Planning and Transport

Combining our knowledge of data, surveying, and mobile mapping systems we have undertaken substantial data capture and management projects for a range of planning and transport authorities: Street furniture surveys to faciliate conservation during metro works; cycle and bus lane surveys involving GPS, video, photo, and condition data capture; bike-based informal 'desire line' surveys of local connectivity; urban tree survey methodology development and rollout.

Self Service Planning Tool for the Public

The Self Service Pre-Planning Tool is a web-based tool that allows a public user to assess the planning constraints in the area where he or she wishes to build. The mapping system allows the user to find their area of interest, trace the outline of their plot of land, and get a report highlighting constraints in the area. This report can be emailed or recalled during planning consultations with the planning authority, and guides the public in identifying suitable locations for development. The Planning tool has been widely welcomed and engages the public with the planning authority in a continuous way. Since developed in partnership with two local authorities it has since been rolled out to a wider list covering many regions.
(Mayo & Donegal County Councils, Ireland)

See working systems for Wexford County Council; Mayo County Council; Laois County Council

Enhancing Local Neighbourhoods

The objective of the study was to model accessibility to neighbourhood facilities by various population cohorts and user types. Points & Zones of Interest included community centres; local, neighbourhood & regional centres; recycling bring-banks; parks; playgrounds; schools; industrial areas; bus stops; train & metro stations.

The study was supported by an initial extensive field survey. This was bike based and utilised mobile GIS/GPS with a linked camera and video. Using this and other existing data a comprehensive transport network - including desire lines was created. This was integrated using a data model other planning data within the planning authority.

Following on the survey and data modelling phase advanced network analysis & modelling was undertaken. Interactive maps and statistics were prepared. This accurate and comprehensive material supported consultation among staff in the local authority and also with public groups.
(Fingal County Council, Ireland)

Data management and mapping system for the national Central Statistics Office of Ireland

As the official national statistics agency, the CSO required a mapping and data management system that would have the ability to integrate with other national statistical databases. This has been delivered through an initla phase of work with following phases to widen the range and depth of use of the mapping and data system. Also undertaken was a pilot project to develop and test a mobile data recording system for population census enumerators.

Analysis of Commuting & Connections in a City Region

The European Regional Development Fund POLYNET project on ‘Sustainable Management of European Polycentric Mega-City Regions’ examined changes in functional connections and information flows (physical/transportation and virtual/ICT) in major urban regions across North West Europe. The Compass team collated data for the Dublin region and undertook statistical analyses (special and functional polycentricity, urban self containment, and rank size analysis) for all the city regions.

Publications arising:
Hall, Peter and Pain, Kathy, Learning From Mega-City Regions In Europe (2006)
This publication is presented as a landmark publication in city studies, examining the complex socio-economic systems that play a pivotal role in regional urban networks worldwide, with internationally-renowned authors offer expert analysis, aided by regional case studies and detailed colour maps.

J. Yarwood, (Ed.), Ireland’s Megacity Region: The Dublin-Belfast Corridor. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing).