1. Louisiana Geographic Information Systems Council
August 21, 2003
LSU

2. René Maggio, GIS Supervisor Jefferson Parish Planning Department
Using the American Planning Association’s (APA) Land-Based Classification Standards (LBCS) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
René Maggio, GIS Supervisor
Jefferson Parish Planning Department
Louisiana Geographic Information Systems Council

3. Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
Urban parish in the New Orleans MSA
455,000 residents
370 square miles stretching 60 miles from Lake Pontchartrain to the Gulf of Mexico
155,000 parcels comprising 101,000 development sites
East Bank a densely developed commercial and retail trade center
West Bank more industrial with large tracts of undeveloped land
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
East Bank
New Orleans
Miss
issippi
River
West Bank
St. Charles
Parish

4. Data situation in 1999
Used in-house text-based land-use coding scheme for zoning studies
Small-area land use maps—most paper, some digital
No parish-wide land use inventory
GIS under construction

5. What is LBCS?

6. LBCS concept Multi-dimensional + Hierarchical = 973 existing codes
Land-use coding system based on the SIC
and NAICS codes
Multiple subcategories

7. APA’s goals for LBCS Standardize land-use categories across:
Scales (cities, parishes, regions, etc.)
Geography (parcels, traffic zones, etc.)
Purposes (rural, urban, etc.)
Standardize land-use color codes
Allow customization without breaking the logic of classification
Incorporate multiple dimensions
Tie the conceptual framework to database and GIS technologies

8. The five basic land-use dimensions
Activity
observable characteristic based on use
Function
economic use or type of establishment
Structure
type of structure or building type
Site
overall physical site development
Ownership
relationship between use and land rights

9. LBCS hierarchy 9 CATEGORIES 5 DIMENSIONS 1000 ----- 9000 1100 1200
Activity
Function
Structure
Site
Ownership
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
1110
1120
1130
1140
1150
1160
1170
1180
1190
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119

10. Why multiple dimensions?
Allows multiple characteristics to be classified simultaneously
Can be added and dropped as the purpose of the data changes
In a GIS, accommodates multiple users
Fire Dept.—activity dimension
Planning Dept.—function dimension
Environmental Dept.—site dimension
Special preservation districts—structure dimension
Assessor’s Office—ownership dimension

11. Level 1 Color Coding
APA developed a color-coding system for each of the first-level categories in LBCS. Each color is defined by its red, green, and blue attributes
The color coding scheme provides planners with an opportunity to produce general, color-thematic land use maps. In order to map uses at higher levels of detail, APA recommends designating shades of each first-level code color to its corresponding subcategories. For instance, in this example, red and shades of red can be used to depict commercial uses.

12. LBCS color coding values on APA Website

13. Activity Dimension Tree
Activity Dimension observable characteristic based on use
Activity Dimension Tree

14. Zephyrs Stadium Activity
6000
6200
Mass assembly of people
Spectator sports assembly
Function
5000
Arts, entertainment, recreation
Structure
3000
Public assembly
Site
Developed with building
Ownership
4000
Public restrictions

15. Level 1 Activity Dimension Color Coding

16. Function Dimension Tree
Function Dimension economic use or type of establishment
Function Dimension Tree

17. Zephyrs Stadium Function
Activity
6000
Mass assembly of people
Function
5000
5120
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Sports team or club
Structure
3000
Public assembly
Site
Developed with building
Ownership
4000
Public restrictions

18. Level 1 Function Dimension Color Coding

19. Structure Dimension Tree
Structure Dimension type of structure or building type
Structure Dimension Tree

20. Zephyrs Stadium Structure
Activity
6000
Mass assembly of people
Function
5000
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Structure
3000
3300
Public assembly
Sports stadium or arena
Site
Developed with building
Ownership
4000
Public restrictions

21. Level 1 Structure Dimension Color Coding

22. Site Dimension overall physical site development
Site Dimension Tree

23. Zephyrs Stadium Site Activity 6000 Mass assembly of people Function
5000
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Structure
3300
Public assembly
Site
Developed with building
Ownership
4200
State government

24. Level 1 Site Dimension Color Coding

25. Ownership Dimension Tree
Ownership Dimension relationship between use and land rights
Ownership Dimension Tree

26. Zephyrs Stadium Ownership
Activity
6000
Mass assembly of people
Function
5000
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Structure
3300
Public assembly
Site
Developed with building
Ownership
4000
4200
Public restrictions
State government

27. Level 1 Ownership Dimension Color Coding

28. Summary of LBCS hierarchy
Each dimension contains nine categories at the first level of detail
Each category can have up to four levels of detail
Level-1 codes are the most general, and level-4 codes are the most detailed
Function Dimension
Level of detail
Code
Category
First
2000
General sales or service
Second
2100
Retail sales or service
Third
2110
Automobile sales or service establishment
Fourth
2111
Car dealer

29. Potential to add codes
Assign new categories for new or additional land uses as long as the hierarchy is maintained
Not limitless—category filled at “9”
To test the utility and flexibility of the classification system in the land use survey process, the Planning Department conducted a pilot study of LBCS in Harvard Estates, a mixed-use subdivision located on the East Bank of Jefferson Parish. The pilot study showed that LBCS had to be customized to fit the classification needs of the parish and to increase the utility of the standard. For instance, a review of the LBCS manual revealed some codes that do not and will not reflect land uses in Jefferson Parish, such as snow ski resorts. These unnecessary codes were omitted in order to utilize a manual containing only those codes which are suitable to Jefferson Parish. Additionally, some of the original categories in LBCS had to be expanded to a greater level of detail in order to capture common uses found throughout the parish. For example, as mentioned earlier, codes for hair and nail salons were created under the original LBCS category, Personal Services.

30. Adding codes Function Dimension Level of detail Code Category First
2000
General sales or service
Second
2600
Personal services
Third
2610
Personal care*
Fourth
2611
Hair, nails, and skin care*
2612
Electrolysis, therapeutic massage, tanning etc.*
2620
Dry-cleaning and laundry*
2621
Coin-operated Laundromat*
2622
2623
Linen and uniform supply*
2630
Photofinishing*
* Category created by the J.P. Planning Department, guided by NAICS and Zoning Ordinance
The planning department created three categories at the third level of detail- Personal care (2610), Drycleaning and laundry (2620), and Photofinishing (2630). Both the 2610 and the 2620 codes are described as catch-all categories for uses that combine personal care services such as a hair and nail salon, or dry cleaning and laundry services. Both categories have been broken down further to the fourth level of detail so that specific uses that are prevalent in Jefferson Parish could be captured. The 2630 category, Photofinishing, is defined as uses that offer services such as film developing. This category has not been broken down to the fourth level of detail.

31. Close to reaching the limit
Function Dimension
Level of detail
Code
Category
First
2000
General sales or service
Second
2400
Business, Professional, Scientific, and Technical
Third
2410
Professional services
Fourth
2411
legal
2412
accounting, tax, bookkeeping, payroll
2413
architectural, engineering, surveying
2414
graphic, industrial, interior design
2415
consulting (management, environmental)
2416
research and development
2417
advertising, media, and photography
2418
veterinary

32. Data collection adjustments
Creation of development sites was necessary due to building on multiple lots
Coding rights-of-way not feasible
No ROW layer in JPGIS

33. What it took to accomplish data collection and entry
Two years
Around $550,000
One to two dozen UNO graduate students at any one time
2,000,000 aspirins and counting

34. Integrating LBCS into Jefferson Parish’s GIS (JPGIS)
At the time the Planning Department began using LBCS, APA did not provide a guide to the development of a database or GIS templates. The Planning Department, however, recognized the significant role that GIS could perform in organizing, processing, and displaying LBCS data. Consequently, after the completion of the Harvard Estates pilot study, the Planning Department worked closely with the parish’s GIS Division in the creation of a relational database to support LBCS.

35. One possibility for incorporating LBCS into a GIS:
Source: American Planning Association; Sanjay Jeer, AICP, “LBCS: Land-Based Classification Standards.”

36. APA’s LBCS data model Each dimension can be a polygon layer
BEFORE LBCS
AFTER LBCS
Source: American Planning Association; Sanjay Jeer, AICP, “LBCS: Land-Based Classification Standards.”

37. APA’s concept for coding single uses
Source: American Planning Association; Sanjay Jeer, AICP, “LBCS: Land-Based Classification Standards.”

38. APA’s concept for coding mixed uses
Parcel ID
Activity
Activity description
2100
Retail Sales and Service
2121
Furniture
2132
Camera Stores
2134
Sporting Goods
2135
Books, magazines etc.
2220
Credit union
2310
Real estate services
2411
Legal services
2430
Travel agent services
2510
Restaurants
4155
Taxi and limo services
4300
Utility offices
5310
Amusement park
6141
Beauty school
6420
Police
6562
Child day care
6565
Family services
APA’s concept for coding mixed uses
Source: American Planning Association; Sanjay Jeer, AICP, “LBCS: Land-Based Classification Standards.”

39. APA relates all five dimensions to the same polygon Mapping constraints caused by using only polygons:
Only one dimension can be clearly mapped at a time
For mixed uses, only one use can be shown at a time

40. Jefferson Parish Goals
To show multiple dimensions on the same map
To map dimensions by polygons as well as by points
Show multiple uses or structures in a mixed use on the same map
Use existing JPGIS data tables

41. Jefferson Parish GIS (JPGIS)
Intergraph GeoMedia GIS software functions as user interface
Oracle database software is used for back-end data storage and analysis needs
Polygon (area)
Feature mapping capabilities
Polygon (area)
Line (two or more points [vertexes])
Point
The parish uses Intergraph GeoMedia as its GIS software package. The parish GIS contains several features which are typical to most municipal geo-spatial operating systems. Features such as parcels, zoning, water bodies, and council districts are represented by polygons. Line features represent streets, canals, and railroads, while point features are linked to data such as manholes, pump stations, playgrounds, and utilities.
Line (two or more points)
Point

42. JPGIS relational database design goals
Maintain existing tables:
Polygons representing parcels
Polygons representing buildings
Create two new tables:
Polygons representing Development Sites
Points representing Function/Activity
Link the tables with a common attribute called Development Site ID
As a result of collaboration between the Planning Department and the GIS Division, the parish’s GIS was updated to include three new layers, including a new building layer, a function/activity layer, and a development site layer, to accommodate all dimensions of LBCS and the additional data captured on the survey forms. The creation of a new parcel layer, linked to ownership data, is planned for the near future. Each LBCS layer is attached to one another by a common attribute- the development site- as a requirement of the relational database.

43. Table Relationships One-to-many Existing table One-to-many One-to-many
New table
Table Relationships
New table
Existing table
New column

44. Tables for a residential double
4925
4927

45. Primary activity and function for a single use
4100
4242
Function/activity table
Primary activity
Primary function
Development site table

46. Primary activity and function for a mixed use
1130
2100
2133
2135
2610
Function/activity table
Primary activity
Primary function
Development site table
Retail is the majority and more intense use

47. Displaying LBCS data in maps
LBCS data can be mapped like most other GIS data by using thematic mapping techniques and queries
Codes below the 1st level of detail can use the same colors as the 1st level or additional colors can be generated

48. Level 1 Function

49. Displaying LBCS data in maps
The total number of colors displayed on a map should not exceed for readability reasons
3 to 5 colors from each color family (red, blue, green etc.) generally yield acceptable results
Beware of color differences that exist between screen display and printed output

50. Role of LBCS in comprehensive planning
Used for land use analysis to indicate existing land use distributions and patterns and assist in allocating future land use
Used at the function dimension to determine land use distribution and to identify specific residential densities
Used at the structure dimension to determine residential land use density and to indicate existing land use patterns

53. Challenges Maintaining the data
Coordination between various departments and agencies
Inspection and Code Enforcement
Assessors office
Sheriff’s department
Resistance to change

54. Challenges Maintaining the data Incompatible computer systems
Inconsistencies in levels of expertise
Using the data
Lack of incentive if ordinances that implement the Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan are not adopted with teeth

55. Opportunities Revise zoning ordinance Enhance usefulness of JPGIS
Updated parish-wide land use data
Increased data management and analysis capabilities

56. For more information APA LBCS Web site:
Jefferson Parish Comprehensive Plan Web site:
Contact:
Rene’ Maggio:
Further, only one function point, linked to one function dimension, exists for a duplex, triplex, quadruplex or multiple-family dwelling where each unit has the same street address but a different unit designation. The single address number is populated in the address field while the range of unit numbers or letters is populated in the “suite” field. Once again, only one function dimension is linked to the dwelling unit so the GIS will accurately count one use for the