Cropper GIS utilizes a process that involves community stakeholders. This process ensures that the plan is embraced by the community and minimizes backlash when implementing a redistricting plan. Whether redistricting is for schools (attendance areas), businesses (service areas, administrative regions), or government (congressional districts), Cropper GIS empowers key stakeholders in the process and utilizes GIS to its maximum capacity to bring feasible recommendations. Mapping and analysis of students/customers/clients within each of the zones gives a clear depiction of the issues at hand, and solutions that can be provided to solve the problem. Analysis of these factors on top of current school/office locations, census demographic variables, and local development plans ensures that all factors are considered before making a move.

Below are some before and after redisctricting maps. Click the black arrows to change projects and mouse over the dates to toggle maps.

Communities and municipalities are impacted by new residential/commercial growth on a daily basis. If you are serving an area that is experiencing growth, you might be thinking:

• “Is this going to remain a farm field or turn into something else?”
• “How is this new subdivision going to impact my school district?”
• “How much more development is going to occur before it slows down?”
• “How many potential students/customers can I expect from this new development?”

Cropper GIS gathers data from multiple sources to find answers to these questions. Working with local planning departments, Cropper GIS gains a clear understanding of the development potential in the area. Comprehensive plans are reviewed to determine what plans are underway for future zoning changes in the area. These plans are also compared to historical building/occupancy permit activity to determine development trends. Likewise, Cropper GIS analyzes current subdivisions in the area to find trends that might impact it’s clients.

In order to determine an optimal site for a new facility, 3 primary factors need to be known. These are:

1. Historical development and population trends in the area

2. Existing housing and population demographics in the area

3. Future development plans in the area Cropper GIS utilizes the latest market research data and technology to assist in site feasibility for new facilities. With the use of Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, Cropper GIS can pinpoint the location of existing facilities and other competitive facilities that could impact the new location.

Cropper GIS utilizes a blend of census and market research data that gives a detailed depiction of trends at the block group level. Block groups typically consist of no more than 500 people. The analysis at the block group level reveals important factors that relate to:

• Population
  • Age
  • Ethnicity
  • Sex
  • Industry/Occupation
  • Income / economic attributes
• Housing
  • Tenure
  • # of Households
  • Type of housing
  • Vacancy rates
  • Cost of owned housing
  • Rental cost
  • Ethnicity of households
  • Family size
    

These trends can be visualized in both a current year estimate and a 5-year forecast. For example, a site feasibility study performed today would include analysis of 2006 data along with 2011 projections of all of these factors.

Use of market research and census data is one component of a site feasibility study. Cropper GIS also obtains detailed development history along with future residential plans from local sources and integrates this information into the mapping tool for visualization. This gives an understanding of the development potential in any area to ensure that future growth is accounted for in the analysis. Likewise, if the developer has current facilities in the area, Cropper GIS would locate all of their existing customers/students on a map (based on their home address) to determine the impacts on existing market areas they currently serve. This ensures that overlap of service areas are kept at a minimum.

Combining all of this information together leads to a clear solution and optimal location for future facilities.

Subdivision analysis helps to answer questions like:

• “How many students are coming out of the various subdivisions in my area?”
• “How do the various subdivisions compare when looking at student/customer activity?”
• “Are there any trends that will help to determine subdivision turnover?”
• “My old subdivision used to be all empty nesters, but now I am seeing many more families moving in with children. What is going on?”
• How does the number of housing units in the subdivision compare to the number of customers or students living in the development?”
• What are the differences between single and multi-family developments?
• “Does the cost of housing really impact the number of customers or students that live in it?”

Mapping of the customers or students in each subdivision and comparisons with the amount of housing units leads to a yield-factor. This yield factor depicts how many students or customers per household are coming out of existing developments. Historical customer or student databases can also be analyzed to determine trends and changes over time for various subdivisions.

Demographic analysis is important for businesses to gain a clear understanding of what is occurring within their area. Factors that pertain to housing and population can be analyzed to give this clear depiction. Historical data is analyzed to determine trends, current data is analyzed to determine where things are as of now, and future plans are analyzed to determine where things are planned to go. Putting all of this on a map removes the problems of being bogged down with multiple tables, spreadsheets, and reports. It is very hard to find relationships when looking at 10 pieces of paper, but having the ability to layer these data elements on top of each other on a map removes this issue. GIS really makes things more clear!

A goal of Cropper GIS is to eventually empower clients with the ability to analyze their data independently of consultants. With this in mind, Cropper GIS moves to customize a system for them that integrates all of their data together. Once this system is in place, Cropper GIS assists clients in planning to solve their problems at hand. While this is occurring, the client is already gaining an understanding of the potential for GIS as it applies to their market. Once problems are solved, Cropper GIS facilitates the purchase of a GIS system and provides training that is catered to the client’s market. Training and exercises are performed with their data, so the client can begin to get more familiar with the information.

Cropper GIS also assists businesses who already own GIS. The process of learning GIS can be arduous. Cropper GIS uses past experiences and shares these with clients for their benefit. Consulting services not only include advice on the best process to use, but also assists clients with updating and maintaining their GIS to make sure all of the data is as current as possible.

The staff of Cropper GIS have been educated and trained on cartographic standards and processes. Since they have developed thousands of maps, Cropper GIS staff has fine-tuned their process to ensure that the client gets the best quality.  Cropper GIS provides drafts to clients for review and works with the client to guarantee satisfaction. It is our intent to make you happy no matter what.