SPM is a web-based scenario development, modeling, and data
organization tool developed to facilitate informed and
collaborative planning among counties/subregions, local
jurisdictions, other stakeholders, and the public. Built on open
source software platforms, SPM includes a suite of tools and
analytical engines that help to quickly illustrate alternative
plans and policies and to estimate their transportation,
environmental, fiscal, public health, and community impacts.
Moreover, SPM provides a common data framework within which local
planning efforts can be easily integrated and synced with
regional plans.
Background
Senate Bill (SB) 375, which was passed by the California
Legislature and signed into law by the Governor in September
2008, requires each Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to
develop a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) for reducing
carbon emissions. Under SB375, each MPO needs to provide the
public with the necessary modeling information and tools for an
informed assessment of the issues and policy choices in the
development of SCS. Accordingly, in Spring 2011, SCAG developed
the Local Sustainability Planning Tool (LSPT), a GIS-based sketch
planning tool that allows users to create land use scenarios and
analyze their impacts. Provided with preliminary scenarios of
their planning areas, local planners were able to create, modify,
and compare different land use scenarios and their subsequent
impacts on vehicle ownership, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), mode
use and GHG emissions. This allowed the local government
participation in the development of the 2012 -2035 RTP/SCS to be
far more fruitful than it otherwise would have been.
When SCAG initiated the 2016-2040 RTP/SCS process,
additional functional and analytical needs were identified to
better foster the creation of a highly realistic and
implementable SCS through a “bottom-up” approach. After the
thorough review of scenario planning models and tools in
practice, SCAG joined other major Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (MPOs) in California – Sacramento Area Council of
Governments (SACOG) and San Diego Association of Government
(SANDAG) – to enhance and customize the UrbanFootprint software
system, a web-based scenario development and modeling
framework built on open source software platforms and tools.
Enhancement and customization of the UrbanFootprint system
for SCAG’s application involves internal data development and
scenario modeling capacity, local input and planning process
across the region, and regional-scale planning and scenario
development. In order to make the tool useful to subregions and
local jurisdictions, SCAG formed a Working Group that includes
representatives from all counties and subregions in the SCAG
region to serve as an advisory group on functional and
operational aspects of the model. Since its formation in 2013,
the Working Group has been an invaluable source of support and
guidance in the development and implementation of UrbanFootprint
based SCAG Scenario Planning Model (SPM).
Primary Purpose
The primary purpose of SPM is to enhance the Region’s ability to
address complex issues and evolving challenges by providing
better information about alternative future scenarios and by
building an improved linkage between local and regional planning.
SPM will provide local planners advanced capabilities and serve
as a common platform for communication and collaboration between
SCAG and local jurisdictions. Within SCAG’s integrated modeling and
forecasting system, SPM serves as a conduit between local
jurisdictions and key SCAG models, such as regional
transportation models, land use/growth forecasting model and air
quality model. The use of SPM, however, is not mandatory and is
at the discretion of subregions and local jurisdictions.
Estimated Timeline
The first phase of SPM development focused on building a
local-regional database connection through a Data Management
site as a common platform and on setting up a Scenario
Development and Analysis site for regional application. SPM Data
Management site has been tested and refined through multiple
rounds of pilot testing with select local jurisdictions from the
SPM Working Group. The final Data Management site is available
upon request until it is released to all local
jurisdictions in the SCAG region in Fall 2017.
SPM is currently in its second phase of
development, focusing on building a local setup of
Scenario Development and Analysis site with enhanced
analysis modules.
For frequently asked questions (FAQ) about SPM, click here.
