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entation, and the design of the right -of= -way. <br />Our firm created SketchUp illustrations to <br />add interest to the guidelines and illustrate <br />various recommendations. <br />SketchUp also has the ability to cre- <br />ate detailed drawings, making it an effec- <br />tive development visualization tool. The <br />images above were created to visualize a <br />recommendation to convert an unfinished <br />development site into a public plaza until <br />such time that development may be fea- <br />sible. Graphics prepared for the assignment <br />include several perspectives of a detailed <br />SketchUp depicting site elements such as <br />outdoor dining, active open space, and im- <br />proved circulation. <br />Pictometry <br />The real power of Pictometry images is the <br />geographic information they contain. With <br />Pictometry's measuring tools, you can docu- <br />ment the existing built form (an important <br />first step in developing a form -based code) <br />and build an accurate 3-D model with prop- <br />erly scaled buildings and structures. <br />How accurate are the measurements <br />from Pictometry? In a recent assignment <br />for Westfield, an international shopping <br />mall operator, we created a cross section <br />fora distance of i,000 linear feet —from a <br />highway interchange to the location of new <br />pylon sign being proposed by Westfield. <br />Between the highway interchange and the <br />sign were power lines, pole signs from <br />other businesses, traffic signals, and a <br />fairly significant change in grade, all affect- <br />ing the sign's visibility and line -of -sight <br />from the interchange. Our exhibit, based <br />solely on measurements obtained from <br />Pictometry, illustrated that the proposed <br />sign would be slightly visible above alt of <br />the existing structures and signage and <br />helped to demonstrate the justifiable need <br />for a variance to permit the height of the <br />proposed new sign. <br />Photoshop + Pictometry <br />Pictometry images opened in Photoshop <br />have no georeferenced information; how- <br />ever, they stilt provide an excellent resource <br />to quickly visualize development. <br />In the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, <br />Illinois, the state has acquired land for a <br />future highway and is waiting for funding <br />for construction and additional land acqui- <br />sition in adjacent communities. Over the <br />last .o years new development has grown <br />adjacent to the fallow right-of-way. In order <br />to illustrate what the future highway corridor <br />ZONINGPRACTICE 3.12 <br />AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION J page 5 <br />