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Log CM for AICP

Slide Presentation

Emerging and Evolving Technology

Digital Transformation of Policy Planning and Practice

Sunday, April 26, 2026

8:30 AM - 9:15 AM CT

Location: HPCC, Room 330AB

CM: .75

Division Endorsement: Federal Planning Division

Moderator and Speaker(s)

Colleen Willger, AICP (she/her/hers)

Director of Urban Strategy
AECOM, North Carolina

Slides

Speaker(s)

Ryan A. Hand

Associate Director
DC Office of Planning
Washington, District of Columbia
Heba ElGawish (she/her/hers)

Associate Director
DC Office of Planning
Washington, District of Columbia

This presentation highlights how the District of Columbia's Office of Planning (OP) and AECOM partnered to create a citywide and place-based Scenario Planning Tool - an ArcGIS-powered solution - to modernize planning workflows and promote equitable development. Learn how OP applies this tool to analyze planning policy performance, model future scenarios, and evaluate planned outcomes during policy formulation using disaggregated data.

Designed for planners, the tool streamlines complex tasks such as sketch planning, 3D visualizations, and suitability analyses, while supporting collaboration across agencies. It integrates with the District's Racial Equity Framework, allowing planners to evaluate and align future land use decisions with equity goals. The tool helped shape OP's engagement and was grounded in best practices for using technology to further engagement.

Take away practical methods for applying scenario planning to address housing affordability, infrastructure investment, and environmental justice. See how technology can empower planners to overcome data and engagement challenges, build new analytical skills, and drive meaningful change in their communities. Leave with actionable strategies to support inclusive, transparent, and sustainable planning practices at the city or neighborhood scale.
Closed Captioning

Learning Objectives:

Understand how OP is evaluating long-term development in the District's comprehensive plan with a digital scenario planning tool that evaluates plan performance in real-time, focusing on equity, housing, and resiliency.
Learn how OP and AECOM partnered to create an ArcGIS-based tool for analyzing land use capacity and suitability, modeling future scenarios, and evaluating outcomes using disaggregated data and planning criteria.
Discover how integrating the Racial Equity Framework within the scenario planning tool supports advanced public engagement techniques and equitable access to housing, jobs, services, and environmental justice across the District.