I-PLACE3S

What is I-PLACE3S?

I-PLACE3S is a software tool that facilitates an integrated land use and transportation planning known as scenario planning. It provides a web-based platform from which to communicate ideas, store data, and analyze potential outcomes.

In scenario planning, several land use options are considered and objectively evaluated against quantifiable criteria. Scenario planning is more flexible and allows for more creativity than conventional planning, especially in creating solutions that are not initially obvious. To begin the process a Base Case scenario is created. The Base Case scenario is a land use map and data set built upon demographic and economic projections and an assembly of adopted policies, primarily general plans. The Base Case represents how the study area would be expected to develop if the current development path were unchanged. It is a very important scenario since all other alternative development scenarios will be compared to the Base Case to determine long term net change.

The problem with scenario planning is that its technical; without a software tool like I-PLACE3S, scenario planning can be complex and intimidating, and can devolve either into planning by guesswork (with little or no technical information because it is simply too costly and impractical to create), or the reverse, a simple accounting of numeric data.

Like any tool, I-PLACE3S must be used properly to achieve the desired results.

How is SACOG using I-PLACE3S?

The I-PLACE3S model was instrumental in the Blueprint Project from 2002 to 2004, in the development of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2035 land use allocations, and continues to be important in the Blueprint implementation efforts at SACOG and several member and partner agencies. SACOG staff and member agencies also use it to develop land use scenarios that feed into travel and air quality modeling. I-PLACE3S will also be used as the primary modeling platform for the Rural Urban Connections Strategy project in 2008/2009.

I-PLACE3S can be a valuable tool for land use planning at any scale, including in developing General Plans, Community Plans, Transit-Oriented Developments, etc. For this reason, SACOG provides I-PLACE3S access, training and support to its member jurisdictions and partner agencies.

If you would like more information on using I-PLACE3S, please contact Kacey Lizon at 916.340.6265 or klizon@sacog.org

• I-PLAC3S Draft User Guide (7.02 mb)
• Appendix 1 (376 kb)
• Appendix 2 (12 kb)
• Appendix 3 (6.33 mb)
• Appendix 4 (17 kb)