Criterion Planners: INDEX Software

Introduction

Projects

Clients

Awards

Services

Introduction

INDEX Planning Support Software

INDEX is an integrated suite of interactive GIS planning support tools for:

Assessing community conditions.
Designing future scenarios in real time.
Measuring scenarios with performance indicators.
Ranking scenarios by goal achievement.
Monitoring implementation of adopted plans.

Introduced in 1994, it is now supporting a wide variety of planning processes across the U.S., with over 150 organizations in 35 states equipped with the software. INDEX can be purchased in standard or custom versions by organizations that desire their own software, or modeling services can be provided by Criterion when analysis, but not software, is desired.

INDEX Tools

PlanBuilder - An interactive tool for neighborhood-to-region scenario building with a comprehensive set of evaluation indicators emphasizing urban design and multi-modal travel. Available in standard and custom PC versions. Case studies and background information and order form.
Paint the Region - A tool for regional growth planning and visioning that allows users to sketch and evaluate land-use and transportation scenarios. Available in custom PC and web versions. Case studies and information.

INDEX is designed to support the entire process of community planning and development. Applications often begin with benchmark measurements of existing conditions to identify problems and opportunities that merit attention in plans. INDEX can then be used to design and visualize alternative planning scenarios, analyze and score their performance, and compare and rank alternatives. Once plans are adopted, INDEX supports implementation by evaluating the consistency of development proposals against plan goals. Over time, achievements can be periodically measured with progress reports.

A Complete Tool Kit

INDEX users draw scenarios on-the-fly in digital charrettes.

Across the U.S. with

What People are Saying

"This is a great example of technology making a world of difference in an important job." Ron Thomas Executive Director N.E. Illinois Planning Commission
"Awesome!..The possibilities with this tool are endless... Opens up a new dimension of understanding." Citizen participants Sacramento Transportation/Land-Use Collaborative
"INDEX provides an extremely useful tool to engage the public and decision makers about options for the future." Ted Mately Wilmington, Delaware Planning Council
"A great example of how technology can bring diverse interests together to help build consensus. People can see the sum of the parts." Lance Freeman San Antonio, Texas Transit Agency
"A major asset for comparing different scenarios and understanding their impacts. It's the best tool I know for building communities that minimize environmental harm." Kaid Benfield NRDC Author - Once There Were Greenfields, Solving Sprawl
"For people engaged in evaluating a myriad of community impacts or dynamics, INDEX provides an immensely valuable resource." Randy Goers Tampa, Florida Planning Director
"Very impressive in its organization, completeness, and functionality. A very useful set of of indicators, superior graphic outputs, and terrific indicator weighting function." Michael Kwartler Environmental Simulation Center, NYC
"Policy-relevant measures of urban form have been developed as part of INDEX. Like all good indicators, they are well defined, easy to compute, and easily interpreted." G-J Knapp National Center for Smart Growth Research Univ. MD
"INDEX helped Portlanders learn about their city, and envision what its future ought to be. I have seen few other tools that provide the means to effectively participate in community planning." Chet Orloff Prof. Urban Studies Portland State University

Users get real-time feedback to guide the planning process and help build consensus.