Creating a Project
Project creation is the starting point for working in UrbanFootprint. Projects are defined by a project area, a canvas type, and, optionally, a context area. This article provides steps on how to create a project.
To create a project:
1. Click Create project in the upper right corner of the screen. The Create New Project window appears.
2. Enter project information. The fields include:
Project Name. Enter a name for your project. (After the project is created, it is possible to change the name via Organization Settings if you have an Admin or Owner role.)
Organization. Select your organization, or the organization that the project should be associated with if you have access to more than one organization. Other users in the organization you select will be able to view or edit the new project based on their permissions.
Project Description (optional). Enter a description for your project. This will be displayed in your organization's Projects page.
3. Define your project area. You can select from available boundaries or upload a project area boundary. Project area boundaries can consist of multiple polygons.
To select from available boundaries (the default option): Begin typing the name of your location in the Location field. UrbanFootprint will list available places (including cities, towns, and other census-designated places), counties, and core-based statistical areas (CBSAs) according to what you type.
To upload a custom project boundary: Select
Upload a polygon boundary. Then, either drag and drop your polygon boundary file into the target area that appears, or click within the target area to open your operating system's file browser and choose your file. UrbanFootprint supports GeoJSON, GeoPackage, or zipped shapefile format.
You can easily create a polygon boundary in GeoJSON, GeoPackage, or zipped shapefile format at geojson.io.
A project boundary cannot be changed once a project is created.
4. Select a project canvas type. You can choose parcels or census blocks. Note that UrbanFootprint imposes a maximum canvas size, determined by land area and census tract coverage. For parcel canvases, the maximum size is 50 km² or 350 tracts, whichever is smaller. For block canvases, the limit is 100 km², or 2,500 tracts. If the land area or tract coverage of your selected project area boundary exceeds the limits, a message will appear. You may opt to use census blocks rather than parcels for broader coverage, or contact us for support if you need a larger canvas size.
5. Select a context area for your project (optional). You can select from available boundaries. Begin typing the name of your location in the Location field, and UrbanFootprint will list available places (including cities, towns, and other census-designated places), counties, and core-based statistical areas (CBSAs) according to what you type.
6. Select a context area canvas type. Like project areas, context areas can be defined by parcels or blocks. The resolution of the project area and context area do not need to match.
7. Click Create. Your project will be created. The time it takes will vary with the size of your project.
Your newly created project will contain the following layers:
Base Canvas. The layer comprised of parcel or census block features that describes existing land use and built form in terms of Building or Place Types and a number of quantitative attributes. For more information, see Base Canvas.
Project Area. A reference layer containing the boundary for the project area.
Context Area Land Use. Reference-only land use for a context area. Included only if a context area is defined.
Context Area. A reference layer containing the boundary for the context area. Included only if a context area is defined.
