Geographic information systems are a vital tool for developing a pedestrian network. This session highlights San Francisco’s WalkFirst project to show how planners can use data and graphics to represent existing street conditions and pedestrian activity—and how decision makers can employ this information to set policy goals and prioritize streetscape improvements. Effective use of maps and graphics will be emphasized.
Speaker Details
Cynthia Comerford
Manager, Planning and Fiscal Policy
San Francisco City-County
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Bio: I have comprehensive experience planning and developing public programs and providing data driven information for federal, state and local planning decisions. My position is managing the planning and fiscal policy for Environmental Health in the City and County of San Francisco. I direct the organizational, policy and fiscal functions of the Environmental Health Section. Within the department, I also manage the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Urban Health and Place Team and direct our Open Data Initiatives. Currently, I am the principal investigator on a CDC funded climate change project to conduct comprehensive needs assessments, gap analyses, and create strategic plans to address the human health consequences of climate change. Present work also includes understanding how green building design can improve health outcomes and developing indoor air quality policy. Past work includes the development of an index to assess pedestrian environmental quality and the design of an evidence based healthy development measurement tool which is used to assess the health impacts of urban plan.
Education: San Francisco State University Masters,Geography: Resource Mgmt & Env Planning 2001–2005. La Salle University Bachelors, Political Science & Economics 1992–1996
Key Publications: 2008. L. Farhang, R. Bhatia, C. Comerford Scully, M. Gaydos S. Malekafzali and J.Corburn. Creating Tools for Healthy Development: Case Study of San Francisco’s Eastern Neighborhoods Community Health Impact Assessment. Journal of Public Health Management Practice. 14(3), 255–265.
Past Assignments: Walk/Bike California Conference 2007 "Tools to Evaluate the Pedestrian Environment". ESRI Conference 2008 "Designing Healthy Communities: Evaluating Neighborhood Walking Environments with GIS-Based Tools". San Francisco Planning and Urban Research 2009 (SPUR)lunchtime forum - "Treasure Island community transportation planning process". Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Chattanooga 2010 - "Pedestrian Environmental Quality Index". BAAMA Educational Meeting 2010 - "The Use of GIS for Health Policy and Planning". HIA of Americas 2010 and 2010 - Speaker/Moderator. Health Impact Assessment Summer Training Course 2005-2012 - Instructor. The State of California’s Climate Action Team Public Health Workgroup 2012 - "Climate Adaptation". Bay Area Regional Energy and Climate Resilience, Public Health Sector Discussion 2012 - "Climate Adaptation". The 139th Annual American Public Health Conference in San Francisco 2012 - "Climate Adaptation" and "Public Health and Green Building". The 2nd CDC/NOAA Climate Science Symposium in Atlanta 2012 - "Climate Adaptation". The Annual NAACHO Conference in LA 2012 - "Climate Adaptation".
Gary W. Chen
Graphic Designer
San Francisco Planning Dept.
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Bio: Currently working at the San Francisco Planning Department in the Information & Anlysis Group as a graphic and web designer. I work primarily on designing data driven information in the form of infographics, maps, and publications, and manage public outreach through the web and social media.
Education: BA in Graphic Communications from San Francisco State University.
Michael Webster
GIS Analyst
San Francisco City-County
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Bio: Geographic Information Systems, Cartography and Geographic Analysis
Education: M.A. Geography, San Francisco State University B.A. Geography, San Francisco State University
Lily Langlois
Planner
San Francisco Planning Dept.
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Bio: San Francisco Planning Department, San Francisco CA. -Lead Planner, Castro Street Design, a project to redesign a well known and iconic neighborhood commercial street. Project Manager, Chinatown Broadway Street Design Project, a project that develops a vision and design for Broadway to improve pedestrian conditions along the corridor. -Lead Planner, Green Connections, a project that aims to re-envision city streets as 'Green Connectors' to increase access to parks, open space and the waterfront. -Planner, WalkFirst, a project that identifies key walking streets throughout San Francisco and establishes a criteria to prioritize pedestrian improvements. -Policy Planner, various efforts related to land use, the pedestrian sector and community planning.
Education: Bachelors Degree in Economics, University of California at Los Angeles. Masters Degree in Urban Planning, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
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