Achievement

The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD)’s is charged with managing the use of the ocean up to 3 miles off shore. This area is a promising area for ocean renewable energy. Developers are searching for areas to test new wave and wind energy devices to meet the state’s goal of expanding renewable energy. Trainee Paul Manson was invited by DLCD to assist the planning by leading a mapping process with local communities on the Oregon coast. He co-produced with the agency and local stakeholders a GIS supported visual and aesthetic measurement system. The system allowed for communities to express their preference for ocean views, understand the possible impacts from ocean energy, and to include community values in the planning process. This project integrated concepts from disciplinary experts in policy analysis and science, geography and ecology as the physical and social attributes that constituted the view scores.