Carl Steinitz (1938–), working with his colleagues and students over a period of approximately 30 years, developed a complete framework (conceptual structure, design strategies, and procedural techniques) for doing geodesign as applied to regional landscape studies. The Steinitz Framework for Geodesign (Steinitz 2012), previously called A Framework for Landscape Planning (Steinitz 1995), advocates the use of six models to describe the overall planning (geodesign) process.
The first three models comprise the assessment process, looking at existing conditions within a geographic context. The second three models comprise the intervention process, looking at how that context might be changed, the potential consequences of those changes, and whether the context should be changed.
The fourth model, the Change Model, provides the specific framework for developing and creating proposed changes (design scenarios) that are predicated on the science- and value-based information contained in the Representation Models and assessed against that same information in the Impact Models, which is the essence of the underlying concept of geodesign, that is, to design within the context of geograhc information.
Steinitz’s book, A Framework for Geodesign , published by Esri Press, delineates the conceptual framework for doing geodesign and is one of the standard references for both practitioners and academics engaged in geodesign.
We will explore the Steinitz framework in greater depth in next week’s lesson.