2.2.3  Data Collection and Analysis

Most of the planning approaches discussed above start with the present. An essential component of the planning process is therefore collecting data about the current status of the community and analyzing that data.

The data collected will depend upon (a) the type of plan being prepared; (b) the specific issues or problems being addressed by the plan; and (c) the type of community doing the plan. Generally, the data collected will examine the services and infrastructure provided by the community (roads, sewer, water, schools, libraries, police, fire); the natural features of the community (existing uses of land, floodplains, wetlands, ground water supplies, surface water and watersheds, soils, vegetation); demographic information (current population by age, sex and race, population projections--10 years, 20 years, number of households, employment trends, labor force estimates); economic resources (tax base information, types of industries in the community).

The above information can be obtained from a number of sources such as various local government offices, state agencies, the federal government, and the University of Wisconsin-Extension. A list of information sources is included in Appendix 1. The information may be presented in the form of a map, tables, or written text. The important information should be included in the plan as background information.

Analysis of the data collected should include answers to questions like: How many people, houses, and jobs will the community have 10 years from now? What are the capacities of the public facilities to handle future growth? What is the ability of the community to pay for future public facilities? What will be the impact of growth on important natural resources of the community?

Data collection and analysis may involve using sophisticated tools (e.g., satellite photography, computer analysis) or readily available local resources (e.g., opinion surveys, citizen task forces, general surveys). The studies and discussions that are part of the data collection and analysis step of the planning process have a value in their own right. The planning process need not always produce a final planning document.

Use of GIS, "geographic information system", technology can be very helpful. It combines a computer's capability to print maps with its capacity to organize and retain large amounts of data and quickly perform complex calculations. By efficiently integrating mapping with location-specific data, GIS users are able to generate maps and reports that use a community's own data to answer specific questions such as "Where are the undeveloped parcels that are within one-tenth of a mile of existing water supply and sewer lines?" This technology can help a community assess its current assets and deficits. It can be a very powerful tool in this step of the planning process.