Hello Blogosphere! My name is Elizabeth Ervin, and I’ve been interning at the Florence County Planning and Building Department for almost three months now, and I have to say I’ve learned a lot. I started strictly working in the GIS department, going over the database of Florence County roads with a fine tooth comb to make sure that when firefighters, police officers, EMS, and other first responders head to a sight they have an accurate map to guide them.
A few weeks into my internship, I got asked to help proofread the Transportation Element of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. Reading this piqued my interest in planning, so I asked Scott if I could help out more often, and he was nice enough to say yes.
Since then, I have gotten to attend meetings on transportation planning, learn planning terminology, and even make a few cool maps that show areas of growth in Florence County. I have been bombarded with new terms and ideas, and have seen firsthand all the work that goes into county planning.
Currently, I am working with a planning program called CommunityViz. CommunityViz allows for the visualization of future patterns of growth based on different scenarios. You can input zoning types, unbuildable areas, current building footprints, and other existing information. Then you can specify certain scenarios, for example changing zoning type or building of new roads or other infrastructure, and the program will predict what will happen to the area in the future. It’s really cool stuff, and especially great because I get to combine GIS with planning! It’s taking some time to figure out, but with the help of Rony (a super-talented GIS Technician), it’s getting there.
Working for the Planning department has been quite an experience so far, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me next!
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