Planning Information Technology Needs Assessment

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Planning Information Technology Needs Assessment

• Client San Francisco Planning DepartmentCitywide
  and Policy Analysis Group (CWPA)
• Project Team Khary Brown, Elliot Pederson, and
  Cody Sisco

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Presentation Outline

• Problem Statement
• Project Objectives
• Methodology
• Client Background
• Survey and Focus Group Results
• Analysis and Recommendations
• Summary

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Client Background

• Citywide Policy and Analysis Group at the San
  Francisco Planning Department
• Long range planning functions
• Better Neighborhoods 2002
• Rezoning of Eastern Neighborhoods
• General Plan Housing Element Update
• Controls for Preserving Industrial Lands
• Obtains technical support from OASIS/MIS

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Problem Statement

• What information capacities are required to
  perform long range planning functions?
• How can existing and emerging technologies be
  used to improve CWPA work
• analysis
• planning
• implementation
• public participation
• What emerging technologies should CWPA be
  monitoring?

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Project Objectives

• To help the CWPA determine its information
  technology needs in terms of
• Hardware
• Software
• Networking
• Training
• Procedures
• To perform a needs identification that will
  assist the CWPA in creating
• Capital expansion plan
• Training schedule
• Budget request

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Methodology
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• Triangulating approach
• Needs Assessment Survey
• Collect basic information about planners and
  available resources
• Focus Group Research
• In depth discussions of limitations and obstacles
• Web Search on Vendors Products
• Reviewed product descriptions for features and
  specifications

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MethodologySurvey Design

• Functional needs questions
• To identify job tasks
• To identify software used to perform job tasks
• To identify unmet needs and current problems
• Training needs questions
• Types of training needed
• Perceived level of proficiency

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MethodologyFocus Groups

• Focus groups (2-4 individuals each) organized
  around functional grouping
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Community Interactions
• Urban Design
• Project Managers
• Discussion topics
• Limitations of software
• Other obstacles

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MethodologyVendor Research
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• Web searches
• Technical journals
• OASIS consultant
• SFSU resources

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• Survey and Focus Group Results

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Matrix of Functions, Tools, and Limitations
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Matrix of Tools, Limitations, and Solutions
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Survey and Focus Group Results Training Needs

• Training needs are greatest for communications,
  graphics, and database software

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Survey and Focus Group Results Proficiency
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Survey and Focus Group Results Procedural
Adjustments

• Loosen web browsing restrictions
• Allow offsite network access via password
• Regularly schedule training sessions

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Programs or other technologies the planners said
might be useful.

• MS Outlook
• Director GIS software
• Groupwide scheduling software
• Project management software
• .NET share point software

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Analysis and Recommendations

• Visualization software
• PageMaker and InDesign
• Instant messaging
• Analysis of GIS programs

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Examples of Pictometry
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Recommendations Visualization Software

• Current software
• Pictometry is an information system that combines
  aerial imaging with an art software system.
• Recommended software
• InterSCOPE by ITSpatial and SketchUp are the
  next step, allowing the user to manipulate the
  landscape using 3D visualization software.

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Examples of Interscope

• Creating models with Interscope

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Interscope works with GIS

• Data fed into GIS are produced as 3D models

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Examples of SketchUp

• Example of a 3D image photo montage

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Examples of SketchUp

• 3D Modeling capabilities of SketchUp

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Recommendations PageMaker and InDesign

• Current software issues
• PageMaker 6.5 has interface difficulties with
  Word and Excel, as well as text editing.
• Recommended software
• Larger Excel files may be difficult to re-do in
  PageMaker. The latest models of PageMaker and
  InDesign come with Excel import filters that work
  fairly well, importing numeric data, formulas,
  tables, and formatting.

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b. Recommendations Graphics and Report Production
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Recommendations Communications

• Current software issues
• Lotus Notes is slow, not intuitive, it has
  difficulties with group scheduling, and is not
  compatible with PDAs.
• Recommended software
• EasySync for notes gives simple, bi-directional
  synchronization between critical Lotus Notes
  databases and IBM work pad or 3com palm computing
  device.

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GIS Program Analysis
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Planners Tool Box Contents

• Microsoft Office 2000
• InDesign
• PageMaker 7.0
• Photoshop 7.0 or Illustrator 7.0
• EasySync for Notes
• On-line manuals
• ArcView 8.x
• Visual simulation software

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Summary

• We clarified the function of the long range
  planning department
• We identified training and software needs
• We recommended procedural adjustments and new
  programs

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THANK YOU!