Abstract

Automating amd Capturing Amenity-Values using Conservation-Easement-Visibility-Index (CEVI) in ArcGIS environment
Track: Urban and Regional Planning
Authors: Jay Mittal, Lin Liu

This paper covers at least three topics for GIS users: Urban and Regional Planning, 3D and Conservation. Using Spatial Analyst and 3D in ArcGIS, I developed Conservation Easement Visibility Index (CEVI) -- a joint measure of distance decay and viewshed function in my recently completed doctoral dissertation. ArcGIS helped in generating input variables for the model. Using hedonic modeling framework, I captured the amenity-values generated by the Conservation Easement (CE) protected land parcels as internalized by the surrounding homes. The findings were very interesting: Statistically, distance and view both were insignificant; however, their joint effect captured via the CEVI was significant. The paper makes a methodological contribution and informs land conservation agencies in prioritizing land for conservation purposes, to real estate developers in spatially targeting developments to internalize greater externalities and to local authorities in forming sound land use policies to promote land conservation.