Joint Land Use Study

The Southern New Mexico – El Paso, Texas Joint Land Use Study (SNMEP JLUS) is a coordinated planning process that highlights the common interests of the region, funded through the Department of Defense Office of Economic Advancement (OEA). The SNMEP JLUS engaged Tierra Plan to develop an interactive web mapping platform for land use planning and energy project compatibility in a large region that encompasses six counties, three large military installations, and various federal, state and local landholdings. We designed and implemented a new JLUS parent website, an interactive web mapping platform including spatial datasets gathered from all the participating agencies, planning tools, and a suite of energy compatibility GIS data sets. 

A key component of this project was development of an energy compatibility model and map data for planners. We created map data that show relative compatibility values for developing energy infrastructure such as transmission lines, wind towers, or solar farms. This region is dominated by three large military installations, so airspace constraints and vertical boundaries are a critical consideration when planning on building tall structures. The complexity of the land management and airspace management in this region makes it difficult for energy planners to easily identify constraints for tall structures, or find points of contact for the various surface and airspace management agencies.

We created an intuitive Energy Planning Tool that guides users to define a proposed project area and run a compatibility analysis. Results from the analysis are returned in a tabbed report, showing high-medium-low compatibility ratings for both ground level and airspace intrusive projects. The report also includes points of contact for military land managers and other agencies that intersect or are adjacent to the energy project.

Twenty-nine geospatial data sets were used as inputs for determining compatibility ratings. Because energy projects often include tall structures, we also included military and civilian airspace datasets, and we created FAA Part 77 imaginary surfaces data for all the airports in the JLUS region.

The JLUS parent website is a user-friendly WordPress-based site that allows JLUS staff to easily manage public engagement content, event calendars, and documents. Content and links guide users to the interactive map, energy compatibility and land use tools, and project submission forms.

Another component is a secure project submission portal that allows developers to submit their proposed projects and establish contact with all agencies that intersect or are adjacent to the project area.