ARC Population and Employment Allocation Disaggregator — A Simple GIS-Based Tool for Parcel-Scale Population Projection

Abstract

Continued development of urban areas requires careful planning to ensure adequate resources are provided for growing industry and population while sustaining a healthy environment. This paper will discuss the on-going development of a GIS-based software tool, developed by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), for projecting future development of the Atlanta Metropolitan Region. With this tool, the ARC can model growth of projected populations at fine scales, and thereby estimate future demands for transportation infrastructure, water, and other utilities. The Atlanta metropolitan area is a 22-county region in the northwest corner of Georgia, with a burgeoning population of approximately 5 million. By land area, Atlanta is the fastest growing city in the world with some of the highest commute times in the United States. Continued development strains Atlanta's resources more and more. The ARC is dedicated to unifying the region's collective resources to prepare for a prosperous future. It does so through professional planning initiatives, the provision of objective information and the involvement of the community in collaborative partnerships.