Urban Planning Maps:

Sustainability Planning and Strategy in Metroplan Orlando

This map study shows the photovoltaic power potential (PVOUT) across the three counties that make up the Metroplan Orlando territory to help make sustainable urban planning choices and implement a potential new solar energy research park. Higher PVOUT values are indicative of areas that are better suited for implementing solar energy, to reach our goal in both reducing harmful emissions and supporting the development of green infrastructure within the growing region. Osceola County wins the highest solar potential with a mean PVOUT of 4.42, followed closely by Orange County with a value of 4.40 and Seminole County at 4.38. Osceola County's performance surpasses the median PVOUT level for the state of Florida.

Proposed Sites for a Solar Energy Research Park in Osceola County

This map shows the comprehensive GIS analysis of the site selection process to identify parcels that met specific criteria; the site must be located outside city limits, within one mile of major roads, and at least one mile away from schools and aviation facilities. It could not be within 1,000 feet of a sinkhole or on conservation land. The site also needed adequate drainage to support construction and a minimum size of 25 acres.

Based on the Florida Department of Revenue’s (DOR) Land Use Codes, the most suitable classifications were 038 (Research and Development), 040 (Vacant Industrial), 091 (Utilities), and 099 (Non-Agricultural Acreage). From these categories, 14 potential parcels were identified: 1 under 038, 0 under 040, 1 under 091, and 12 under 099. Each parcel was further evaluated by affordability and proximity to urban areas resulting in two primary candidates.

Reasoning for Site 1 and Site 2 selection are as justified in the map.

Exploring Safety and Accessibility in Seminole County: Pedestrian Risks, Traffic Impact, and Healthcare Access

In this spatial analysis, the goal was to target areas for improvements in public safety and healthcare access. In Seminole County, the relationship between pedestrian crash areas and hospital accessibility reveals improvements in both pedestrian infrastructure as well as emergency response planning. The 1-mile buffer around pedestrian crashes show both high-risk zones and need for safety measures in areas with frequent incidents. The hospital service area analysis compares simple buffer zones with network-based travel distances to hospitals, showing the actual accessibility. The analyses shows emergency response effectiveness: high-risk crash zones within well-connected hospital service areas might have faster access to emergency care, while more isolated zones could benefit from both preventive safety improvements and optimized healthcare resource distribution helping planners prioritize interventions that reduce risk and enhance accessibility where it is needed.

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Comparing Color Infra-Red (CIR) Multi-Band Image Combinations

This analysis compares data from Landsat 7 Imagery from 2003 and Landsat 5 Imagery from 1986 using combinations of the 4, 3, and 2 data to evaluate differences of urban morphology and development in the Union Park, Orlando, Florida area.