Browse Content: Tool, indicators & monitoring

“CommunityViz is advanced yet easy-to-use GIS software designed to help people visualize, analyze, and communicate about important community planning decisions.”

UrbanSim is a software-based simulation for urban areas, with tools for examining the interplay between land use, transportation, and policy.

The Community Capitals Framework is a conceptual model for evaluating the overall health of a community and its capacity for community and economic development. The framework is based on successful communities that focus on seven types of capital.

Community Needs Assessment techniques identify and prioritize specific problems within communities that need to be addressed. This generally entails the collection of first-hand information from relevant sources in the local community.

The SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool used to identify a community’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

The Natural Step Framework (TNS) is a science-based, systems framework to help organizations, individuals and communities take meaningful steps toward sustainability.

A civic index is a tool for rating a community on variables relating to quality of life or civic engagement.

Yellow Wood Association’s You Get What You Measure Program applies a values-based process to real-world planning. Developed by a small business consulting firm, the program typically works with rural communities.

Peg is a community indicator system for Winnipeg, tracking indicators that reflect and measure the city’s well being. An ongoing, community-driven process, Peg works to build knowledge that informs community decisions and policy.

INDEX is a powerful, interactive GIS-based planning support system that measures existing conditions, evaluates alternative plans, and supports implementation of adopted plans.