Determining Vacant Buildable Lands Using Vector and Cadastral Data: Problems in Model Building

Author: Gregory A. Newkirk
Organization: City of Vancouver

1313 Main Street
P.O. Box 1995
Vancouver, WA 986681995
USA

Phone: 360-735-8012
Fax: 360-696-8029
greg.newkirk@ci.vancouver.wa.us

GIS can assist in urban growth management by identifying vacant and buildable lands within a given area. However, numerous assumptions about the data can result in a model that is complex and may not accommodate later refinements without a corresponding loss in historic and comparative representation. This paper examines these problems and how model building can move beyond analytical considerations toward establishing a long-term comparative history.