Every year around this time, there are discussions amongst friends and families about when the holiday season truly kicks off. In our GIS/IT department, there is no debate surrounding this question, for we all agree that the holidays begin on GIS Day. Happening once every year during National Geography Awareness Week, GIS Day is a day for cartographers and GIS professionals alike to congregate and show the world their passion for problem-solving through app building and cartography. Unfortunately for us, there are no parades or TV shows involving GIS Day, although we are just as happy celebrating by showcasing some of our favorite projects and explaining how they’ve helped the efforts of the rest of our staff here at MVPC.

MBTA Communities app

The housing challenge has been one of the most pressing issues in Massachusetts for years now, and unfortunately, the Merrimack Valley is not immune. In 2021, the state began an effort to mitigate this problem by passing Section 3A of the Zoning Act which encourages the production of multi-family housing by requiring MBTA communities to adopt zoning districts where multi-family housing is allowed by right.

For our Community and Economic Development program, working to lessen the impacts of the “missing middle” of the housing stock is a task of passion. To find areas for these proposed zones, they must have high-level data derived tools at their disposal. This is where the GIS/IT department comes in. Using web app building skills, an application was constructed for our C&ED cohorts to be able to view the zoning of our communities and their proximity to MBTA stations to find areas to propose as the new multi-family districts. Still in development, this tool has brought together the region’s planners and housing experts to not only meet the needs of the legislation, but bolster a regional approach to affordable housing development.

Trend Based High Injury Network

The Transportation program has built out a robust system of plans that work to address the transportation needs of the region and lots of time is taken to identify potential projects that should be programmed in the Transportation Improvement pipeline. There are many considerations for prioritization of transportation improvement projects, but the forefront of many planner’s focus is safety. Programs like the Safe Streets for All Grant Program and Vision Zero, both of which the MVPC Transportation program are champions of in the region, are geared toward minimizing crashes and fatalities on the roadways.

To achieve the objectives of these programs, transportation planners need robust analytical tools to overlay a multitude of layers that inform project selection and prioritization. MVPC Transportation in conjunction with the GIS/IT program has created a High Injury Network viewer that brings the spatial facets of safety considerations in one place for planners to use in decision-making, presentations, and information-gathering exercises. This web app, though still in draft form will eventually integrate with other transportation planning agencies so that organizations like the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and the state can collaborate more effectively to achieve common goals.

Regional Energy Planning Assistance Viewer

Among many other important initiatives like safety, congestion management, and accessibility, is the electrification of the transportation network. Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a cornerstone of the sustainability movement as an alternative to pollutant-causing gas-run vehicles. With the influx of more electric vehicles, the question of whether communities have the infrastructure to support the charging of these commodities remains. As a function of the Regional Energy Planning Assistance (REPA) Grant, the GIS/IT program helped to “electrify” the transportation options in Merrimack Valley by finding block groups most in need of EV charging infrastructure using a spatial data-driven scoring system.

This web app was built to identify three different types of people existing in block groups and their vested stakeholder groups as EV users: area residents, people who work there, and those who travel there. Using this criterion, as well as showing proximity to major roadways, the Regional Energy Planning Assistance Viewer shows planners and municipal leaders where EV charging stations are most needed. The nexus of all the programs at MVPC, electrification of the transportation network is a multi-disciplinary planning process best facilitated through shared resources like the REPA Viewer.

Greenscapes Low Impact Development Viewer

Just like how the GIS crew is known for their passion for maps, our Environment team is known for their passion for green infrastructure. Low-impact development or green stormwater infrastructure projects are paramount to managing stormwater in a way that has minimal disruption to the natural water cycle. To ensure stormwater management assistance is provided throughout the region, MVPC’s Environment program is a member of the Greenscapes North Shore Coalition, a group of stormwater educators and partner organizations focused on assisting municipalities with stormwater management planning.

The Low Impact Development and Green Stormwater Infrastructure Inventory created by the GIS/IT program for Greenscapes through the 2023 MS4 Municipal Assistance Grant gives the Greenscapes North Shore Coalition a tool to keep track of these essential projects around both the Merrimack Valley and other surrounding areas. Not only does it assist in proper stormwater management tracking at the regional level, but it also facilitates information gathering for several reporting requirements of the MS4 General Permit at the municipal and coordinator levels. Users can look at the viewer to review information about these projects and submit forms to our staff making them aware of any changes or data discrepancies.

We here in the GIS/IT department have been delighted to celebrate GIS Day by showcasing some of our favorite projects and explaining their positive impact on the Merrimack Valley. It would be remiss to write about these projects without acknowledging our talented Commissioners, as well as the dedicated staff we work with around the region. We’re already looking forward to exhibiting more of our work for next year’s GIS Day!

For more information about the GIS offerings at MVPC, check out our program page.

PC: Geo Week News