The Data Consortium consists of Denver Regional Council of Governments members and regional partners with an interest in geospatial data and collaboration. The Data Consortium newsletter improves communication among local GIS professionals and features updates from all levels of government as they relate to data and geospatial initiatives in our region. This newsletter is published quarterly.
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U.S. Census Presents "Road to 2020"
Article submitted by Angeles Ortega, partnership specialist for the 2020 Census, U.S. Census Bureau. Angeles can be reached at 720-962-3872 or [email protected]. 

As of Jan. 1, there were only 1,186 days until Census Day 2020 (April 1). This census will require counting an increasingly diverse and growing population of around 330 million people in more than 140 million housing units. 

The count is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution and takes place every 10 years. The data collected determine the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives (apportionment) for each state and how to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities. 

The U.S. Census Bureau is currently researching four areas representing the major cost drivers of the decennial census: 
  1. Using the internet to increase self-response. 
  2. Using existing government data sources to answer census questions and reduce follow-up workload.
  3. Automating operations to increase productivity, reduce staff and reduce offices.
  4. Using existing maps and addresses to reflect changes rather than walking every block in every neighborhood. 
The decennial census requires years of research, planning and development to ensure an accurate and complete count. 

The participation of local governments in our geography programs now is vital, because it allows us to correctly count your community's residents. Stay tuned for information from the U.S. Census and DRCOG regarding how to get involved. 

For more information, visit the U.S. Census Bureau.
LandUse DRCOG's New Land Use Forecast and Land Use Explorer
Article submitted by Dan Jerrett, DRCOG chief economist, and Justin Martinez, DRCOG economist. Dan can be reached at 303-480-5644 or [email protected]. Justin can be reached at 303-480-5637 or [email protected]. 

One of DRCOG's roles as a metropolitan planning organization is to make predictions about where people will live and work in the future, so services like transit and regulations like zoning can be planned to meet upcoming needs. This process starts with understanding the current environment and then uses assumptions about key variables and a sophisticated model to forecast future conditions. 

DRCOG recently completed a new land use forecast for the nine-county region using UrbanSim, a new model. UrbanSim is a computational representation of metropolitan real estate markets interacting with transport markets. It models the choices made by households, businesses and real estate developers, including how those choices influence governmental policies and investments. The socioeconomic team at DRCOG worked with member jurisdictions to collect data on zoning and future build-out plans to better inform the forecasting process. The updated forecast produces a spatial allocation of households and employment to the horizon year of 2040.

To help visualize the data, DRCOG is launching a new web map that provides an interactive look into the most recent regional land use forecast. Through Land Use Explorer, users will be able to view population, household and employment forecasts for areas that interest them (for example, traffic analysis zones, municipalities, counties and urban centers). A unique feature of Land Use Explorer is that users will be able to aggregate forecast totals across custom regions of multiple traffic analysis zones, making it easier for planners to view population, household and employment forecasts that more closely match small area planning subregions. The Land Use Explorer will also promote collaboration with stakeholders in the DRCOG region by enabling them to provide feedback on the UrbanSim forecast through a commenting feature.

Look for it online soon!
 

DRAPPDRCOG's Denver Regional Aerial Photography Project Update
Article submitted by Ashley Summers, GISP, PMP, DRCOG information systems manager. Ashley can be reached at 303-480-6746 or [email protected]. 

In the spring and summer of every even year, DRCOG facilitates a project to acquire high-resolution aerial imagery for our 7,000-square-mile region. The project takes two years to plan, execute and deliver the imagery, but it's worth the wait. The resulting data is four-band, leaf-off, snow-free and meets strict positional accuracy standards set by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Check out the project extent to see where we acquired 3-inch, 6-inch and 1-foot resolution imagery.
  
Imagery will be available for the public to purchase as a web map service or by the tile this spring from our resellers - Harris MapMart and Sanborn Map Company. Contact Tyler Rowse or Jason Caldwell, respectively, for quotes.


This effort is funded by 50 organizations including seven DRCOG counties, 30 DRCOG cities and towns and 13 regional partners. Project partners experience deep discounts on the data, receive data before it's available to the public and help determine acquisition specifications. If you'd like more information on how to become a partner on the upcoming 2018 project, contact Ashley Summers, DRAPP project manager at 303-480-6746 or [email protected].
planimetricDRCOG's Planimetric Project Update
Article submitted by Ashley Summers, GISP, PMP, information systems manager at DRCOG. Ashley can be reached at 303-480-6746 or [email protected].  

In June 2016, DRCOG wrapped up a large data acquisition project that produced detailed infrastructure information for the region. In partnership with 21 local and regional partners, we acquired information such as building outlines, sidewalks, parking lots and structures, and pavement information drawn through interpretation of aerial imagery. All data is available for free, public download from the Regional Data Catalog

So far, the data has proved useful for a variety of applications, including pedestrian routing, building inventories, impervious surface analysis, creating emergency response plans, and sidewalk quality and availability studies.  

DRCOG is coordinating an effort to keep this data up-to-date. Already 25 partners have expressed interest in funding updates and new data collection across the region. Work is expected to begin in the first quarter of this year and will use the 2016 DRAPP imagery as the source. Data is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of this year and will be made available via DRCOG's Regional Data Catalog

Even with 25 partners, we do not yet have funding to update the entire area captured via the previous project. If you are concerned that your area of interest will not be covered and would like to contribute funding to acquire that area, please contact Ashley Summers, planimetric project manager at 303-480-6746 or [email protected].

MeetingDid You Miss the Last DRDC Meeting?

In November, the Denver Regional Data Consortium (DRDC) meeting featured updates from DRCOG, the U.S. Census Bureau, and Governor's Office of Information Technology. If you missed the meeting and you want to see what's on the horizon for these agencies, check out the presentation materials.
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The Denver Regional Data Consortium newsletter is facilitated by DRCOG but written by GIS professionals like you. This quarterly newsletter reaches more than 200 people and has a higher-than-average open rate. It's the perfect place to show off your projects, highlight your great work and contribute ideas to the GIS community in the Denver region.

The next newsletter goes out in April. Please contact Ashley Summers at 303-480-6746 or [email protected] to contribute.
PublicationsPublications
ResourcesNew and Updated Resources Available in DRCOG's Regional Data Catalog
For more information on any of the topics mentioned in this newsletter or if you have an idea for an article, please contact Ashley Summers, DRCOG information systems manager, at 303-480-6746 or [email protected]

Disclaimer: The information provided in this newsletter is compiled from multiple sources and is intended for informational purposes only.  DRCOG assumes no responsibility or legal liability for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information in this newsletter.