Chapter one · Where the craft was formed
Regional Atlas
A shared spatial base so partners saw the same picture. Foundational GIS — mapping that paid forward for years and still informs how we build spatial tools today.
A shared spatial base so partners saw the same picture. Foundational GIS — mapping that paid forward for years and still informs how we build spatial tools today.
A growing metropolitan planning area needed a clear spatial reference: roadway networks, boundaries, land use context, and transportation maps that staff and partners could use without rebuilding the base every time.
The 2016 MPO Atlas gathered the region’s core geographic layers into a single reference product. The emphasis was practical GIS — maps that explained place and supported planning conversations, not decorative graphics.
A shared atlas that gave planners, officials, and residents a clearer common picture of networks, boundaries, and land use context across the MPO area.
Foundational mapping pays off for years. When the base layers are trustworthy, every later dashboard, engagement map, and plan figure starts ahead.