Abstract Body

Utica, New York is typical of many “rust-belt” communities in the United States that is stagnating and searching for ways to boost their future economic prospects. The Mohawk Valley Health System is constructing a new hospital campus in downtown Utica. MVHS conducted an analysis in 2015 that considered 12 sites for a new hospital within a 10-mile radius of Utica. The project goals were “To consolidate the existing campuses into a single facility within Oneida County’s largest population center, and to comply with the provisions of a $300 million state grant supporting the project.”

The hospital is in the heart of downtown Utica near many cultural resources, such as the Utica Memorial Auditorium and the Utica Marsh Wildlife Management Area. It is a massive undertaking for the region. The hospital is intended to be the anchor for broader redevelopment that would help stimulate growth in the downtown area and the city, and to improve the economic stability for the region.

Geodesign is a tested process that uses geospatial data and analysis tools to address complex land use issues, that involve multiple systems and stakeholders, to provide organizational leaders the information they need to make informed decisions.

We partnered with the City of Utica Planning office and conducted two graduate level courses to delve into the numerous issues that the city faces. Interviews were conducted, and existing studies and digital media from residents of the city was synthesized. Online tools for stakeholder negotiation were utilized so that groups could understand what each other desired for the area. Cutting edge geospatial tools, such as ArcGIS Urban and City Engine, were used to create digital twins to help develop site design alternatives and visualizations for preferred design scenarios.

Our talk will review how an eco-system of geospatially enabled digital tools was used to fully understand the problems that Utica faces and provide guidance for how it can adapt in the future to become more resilient. We will demonstrate how this process can be replicated for other cities that are experiencing similar issues.