Environmental Projects

Environmental Projects

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  Project Examples: Water &Environmental Planning Decision Support Lex Ivey, President
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  COMPANY BACKGROUND TerraCognito GISServices, Inc. • Founded in 2004 by Lex Ivey – Professional Services Consultant at CommunityViz (Boulder, CO) • 2002 - 2004 – GIS Manager at Otak (Carbondale & Denver, CO) • 1998 - 2002 • Extensive beta testing of CommunityViz in 2000 – B.A. Degree cum laude in Geography, Biology & Environmental Conservation (1995 University of Colorado at Boulder)
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  GROWTH MODELING/IMPACT ANALYSIS Potential failed septic fields at 2031 Highly vulnerable aquifers Regional Growth Modeling and Groundwater Protection Potential septic-related Analysis, 2007 groundwater threats at 2031 Client: British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Canada TerraCognito was hired by the to model the impacts of future development scenarios on groundwater resources and provide CommunityViz software training to multiple city and county planners in Canada’s Okanagan Valley. Using assessor records, septic permits, cadastral, and hydrologic data, TerraCognito mapped and quantified the ages of all septic systems in the regional district. Then a build-out analysis and residential land use allocation was performed to generate future land use scenarios based on current zoning. This was overlaid on vulnerable aquifers mapping to map and measure potential threats to groundwater resources over a 25-year period.
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  GROWTH MODELING/IMPACT ANALYSIS Eagle County Build-Out Analysis and Visualization, 2008-2010 Client: Eagle County, Colorado TerraCognito worked directly with Eagle County, Colorado and the municipalities of Avon, Basalt, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff and Vail to perform a county- wide spatial-temporal build-out analysis and 3D visualization. Using ArcGIS and CommunityViz, a detailed existing conditions analysis of dwelling units was performed based on assessor and census data, followed by a numeric, spatial and visual build-out analysis of existing zoning as well potential future land use described in the municipalities’ Master Plans. An elaborate visioning exercise was implemented for the unincorporated Impact Analysis Animation (1970-2051) county using multi-criteria analysis and Data & Process Flow for Multi-criteria Analysis preference mapping to drive future Data Flow Base Data Derived Data Calibrated Data Simple Average growth scenarios. Later phases of work Slopes included an economic component Visible Ridgelines including a commercial build-out C1 + C2 + C3 + C4 NC Criteria analysis, existing jobs distribution, future Wildfire Hazard jobs allocation and impact analysis. Finally, the results were delivered in Proximity to I-70/SH 82 Google Earth format for viewing by the both the planners and the public. Process Flow GIS mapping Spatial Analysis Reclassification Map Algebra Development Preference Model Customized Google Earth Visualization
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  AQUIFER VULNERABILITY MODEL DRASTICFm Implementation Client: Geologic Survey of Canada TerraCognito’s Lex Ivey implemented the migration of the client’s existing aquifer vulnerability model (DRASTIC Fm) to CommunityViz to allow dynamic, real-time modeling updates. The model’s parameters of depth to water table (D), recharge areas (R), aquifer media (A), slope values (S), soil types (T), impact of vadose zone (I), hydraulic conductivity (C) and fractured media (Fm) could be rated and weighted using CommunityViz lookup tables and slider bars. This approach decreased the time required to DRASTIC Fm model layers run the model by a factor of ten. More importantly the ratings for each parameter value as well as the weighting of each value can be interactively changed by the users. Because it is built on a standard aquifer vulnerability modeling framework, this implementation can be used in other geographic locations and modified to the specific conditions in that area. DRASTIC Fm implemented in CommunityViz
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  DAM REMOVAL VISUALIZATION ElwhaRiver Dam Removal Visualization Client: American Rivers NGO hillshade raster TerraCognito modeled two proposed dam removals on the Elwha River in Washington’s Olympic National Park. TerraCognito created interactive, photo-realistic, 3D visualization of existing random color ramp conditions, as well as various stages of dam removal, including draw-down, riverbed restoration, and re-vegetation. The visualizations were used extensively by American Rivers throughout the settlement negotiation process and in meetings with legislators, photo-real ultimately resulting in the impending removal of the Glines Canyon sediment texture and Elwha dams. Commencing in 2011, the dismantling of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams will allow the river to flow freely for the first time in 100 years, restoring over 70 miles of salmon and steelhead habitat. Existing conditions Dam removal / Reservoir draw down Restored river channel
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  office: 303-258-3515 [email protected] mobile: 303-808-3420 www.terracog.com