CD-DIAL (Community Development–Data Information and Analysis Laboratory)
Extension Community and Economic Development, Institute for Design Research and Outreach, College of Design
CD-DIAL works with communities, organizations, and state and local agencies to assist and build decision-making capacity in these groups, especially as they collect and use information about their local population members or the constituents they serve.
Community Design Program
Iowa Architectural Foundation
Provides urban planning and design assistance to communities through a participatory public decision-making process that brings organizational representatives, community officials and concerned citizens together with professional designers. Process culminates in an intensive visioning workshop or “charette” to help all parties visualize the possibilities suggested by community development initiatives.
Designing for an Elder Friendly Community
Extension Community and Economic Development, College of Design
This program will facilitate communities in visioning, strategizing and marketing themselves as an attractive place to retire. It will involve planning at the level of the region and community, neighborhood and downtown as well as at the concept design scale of public realm improvements.
GIS Group Short Courses
College of Design
One and two day courses for groups of 6 to 12 participants covering basics of ArcGIS 9.X and extensions, geodatabase construction, CommunityViz, and 3D integration with SketchUp. Hands-on experience. Continuing education units available.
keywords: training, mapping, GIS, GPS
GIS: Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI)
Extension Community and Economic Development, Department of Landscape Architecture
New interactive technologies on the Web such as Google Maps, Google Earth or other Web 2.0 applications capable of geotagging information enables citizens to create their own personal maps of a community or specific place. Termed Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) this information can be used to by decision makers as they plan the future of a community.
Introduction to Planning & Zoning workshops
Extension Community and Economic Development, Office of State and Local Government Programs, College of Design, Department of Community and Regional Planning
This three-hour program is designed to introduce the basic concepts of planning and zoning to local officials. Topics include the comprehensive plan, the zoning and subdivision ordinances, and the roles of elected councils and boards, the planning commission and the board of adjustment in land use decision-making.
keywords: land use, law
Introduction to Planning and Zoning DVD
Extension Community and Economic Development, Office of State and Local Government Programs, College of Design, Department of Community and Regional Planning
This three-hour DVD is a recording of the July 19, 2005 Introduction to Planning and Zoning workshop held in Ames. It is designed to introduce the basic concepts of planning and zoning to local officials. Topics include the comprehensive plan, the zoning and subdivision ordinances, and the roles of elected councils and boards, the planning commission and the board of adjustment in land use decision-making.
Iowa Great Places
Iowa Great Places
Iowa Great Places brings the resources of State government to Places to build capacity in and cultivate the authentic and unique qualities of neighborhoods, communities, regions, or districts. Places are required to engage in an inclusive visioning process, resulting in a feasible and sustainable vision or strategic plan for the Places future. The Place can then invite the State to partner with the Place throughout the plans implementation. Great Places provides a State Project Manager to guide the Place through State government assistance, technical assistance from each relevant State agency, additional consideration on State grants, and possible direct grant funds.
Iowa Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) Program
Center for Transportation Research and Education
SUDAS is the statewide standard for design and construction of all types of common urban public works improvements (generally, those found in the street rights-of-way) in the State of Iowa. The program primarily consists of the maintenance and improvement of two manuals, design and specifications. These manuals are used to provide uniform design guidelines for engineers and construction specifications for contractors.
Iowa Traffic Safety Data Service (ITSDS)
Center for Transportation Research and Education
ITSDS provides agencies with the most readily available crash data analysis resources in Iowa. It was created to fill the gap between what safety data users can gather for themselves and what they can obtain from experts. ITSDS uses the latest in geographic information systems technology developed by the Iowa DOT. Using the data and analyses provided by ITSDS, agencies can help reduce the number of crashes in their jurisdictions.
Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program
Iowa Department of Transportation, Department of Landscape Architecture, Trees Forever
Provides professional landscape planning and design services to rural Iowa communities with populations under 10,000. Communities learn to employ participatory decision-making processes and implementation strategies, and each community receives a conceptual design plan that can be used to implement landscape and transportation enhancements. Past projects include transportation corridor enhancements, community signage, downtown streetscape improvements, recreational trail development, etc. Collaborating partners include Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa State University Department of Landscape Architecture, Trees Forever.
keywords: highway, strategic plan, appearance, beautificaiton, interns, trails
Monitoring Recreational Trail Use
Extension Community and Economic Development, Department of Landscape Architecture
In order to make more informed decisions regarding developing new recreational trails or materials to promote trail use it is useful to know what trails are currently used most often, what time of day they are used and if there are any trails that are underutilized. To answer these questions, trail use monitors can be installed to count the number of users over a given period of time. This program is designed to provide assistance and equipment necessary to collect this information.
PLaCE (Partnering Landscape and Community Enhancement)
Institute for Design Research and Outreach, College of Design
Provides assistance to create concept plan aimed at enhancing and promoting quality and character of a landscape or community. Past projects include historic preservation feasibility studies; housing needs assessments; development of downtown revitalization plans, city and county comprehensive plans, park and trail master plans, etc.
Planning Officials Academy
Institute for Design Research and Outreach, Office of State and Local Government Programs, College of Design, Department of Community and Regional Planning
This one-day certificate program will use hands-on case studies and practice scenarios to educate participants in the essential principles and practices of managing the land use process. Topics include the legal framework for planning and zoning, finding and working with planning information, meeting management and record keeping, the operation of the zoning ordinance, subdivision plat and site plan review.
keywords: zoning, land use
Special Topics Workshops
Institute for Design Research and Outreach, College of Design, Department of Community and Regional Planning
These two- to three-hour programs will be offered as evening programs to alert local officials to changes in legislation, important court cases, “hot topics” or new and innovative planning practices. These workshops will be marketed through the ISU Extension website and county extension offices, the Iowa League of Cities and the Iowa State Association of Counties. They will be scheduled in response to local interest.