Planning staff outlines 'LUISA' data modernization plan, promises more public‑facing tools

Planning Department staff used the Dec. 20 meeting to introduce LUISA (Long‑range Urban Information and Systems Architecture), a multi‑year data modernization initiative intended to replace manual workflows with automated, authoritative datasets and web‑based tools.

Josh Switzky, who introduced the effort, described goals to create faster production of growth‑capacity estimates, better parcel‑level data integration, and more interactive public interfaces. Scott Edmondson, senior planner driving the initiative, explained that the program will leverage the city’s ArcGIS enterprise license to bring 2D and 3D analysis, photo‑realistic visualization and dashboards into Planning’s core workflows.

Staff said the program will begin with growth‑capacity and land‑use forecasting workflows, expand to support EIR and sustainability analysis, and include training for staff and pilot web applications for public use. Public commenters welcomed the idea but urged explicit outreach and tools that address San Francisco‑specific issues — for example, measured walking times that account for topography and barrier effects rather than simple radii. Sue Hester and others pressed staff to design interfaces and participation processes that reach non‑technical users, not just professional planners and developers.

Staff responded that data sets will continue to be published to DataSF, while LUISA will provide richer, mobile‑friendly interfaces for the general public; planning staff asked commissioners for ongoing support as the program moves from pilot to broader deployment.