Operational Problems
During the spatial analysis procedures, it was necessary to process the data for use within IDRISI. Converting vector files to raster images possibly introduced an amount of error, that manifested in many of the areal calulations and results.
Additionally,the data sources themselves specifically the ALR and GVRD Municipal data had a limited amount of metadata attached, and was used with an amount of uncertainty.
At the time of this writing the 2006 Census data is nearly three years out of date; hence the model is not accurately depicting the most current conditions in the study area.
References
LaGro J.A. Population Growth Beyond the Urban Fringe: Implications for Rural Land Use Policy. Landscape and Urban Planning, 28 (1994) 143-158
Marin M.C. Impacts of Urban Growth Boundary versus Exclusive Farm Use Zoning on Agricultural Land Uses.Urban Affairs Review, 43 (2007) 199-220
Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy Review Backgrounder#7 July 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2008 <http://www.metrovancouver.org/planning/development/
strategy/Pages/default.aspx>
Smart Growth BC Smart Growth BC's Position on the Provincial Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). August 2008. retrieved November 22, 2008: <http://66.51.172.116/Portals/0/Downloads/SGBCALRposition.PDF>
Thanks
Dr. Nadine Schuurman, SFU Department of Geography, for inspiring the conceptual design of this project, and Cyrille Médard de Chardon and Chris Bone for advice and assistance in data aquisition and handling.