VISUALIZATION OF LAND USE SCENARIOS FOR A COASTAL TOURISM ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF BORACAY ISLAND

VISUALIZATION OF LAND USE SCENARIOS FOR A COASTAL

TOURISM ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF BORACAY ISLAND

Homer M. Pagkalinawan

MS Geomatics Engineering, Department of Geodetic Engineering, University of the Philippines

Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - [email protected]

VISUALIZATION OF LAND USE SCENARIOS FOR A COASTAL

TOURISM ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF BORACAY ISLAND

Coastal environments are key areas of development and biodiversity. Being located where

the land meets the sea, it is characterized by remarkable biological productivity and high

accessibility. They maintain a wealth of economic activity associated with recreation and

tourism, waterborne commerce, and energy and mineral production. In the Philippines,

most of the developed cities or locations are considered coastal in nature including Boracay

Island, a world renowned tourist destination. To preserve the natural resources of the island

and mitigate negative impacts of development in the island, a comprehensive land use plan

(CLUP) project was initiated for the island on 2008. The output of the project includes an

existing land use as well as a proposed land use in map form. Using these land use maps

and other data resources, 3D models were visualized for the two land use scenarios.

Complete with terrain, vegetation and structures, a realistic 3D representation of the island

was created in Community Viz, an add-on extension for land use planning in ArcGIS

software. For the proposed land use, Community Viz’s built - out analysis tool was used to

compute, locate and visualized the amount of development in proposed commercial areas.

Comparing the two 3D models highlights the drastic changes that the island will go

through should the proposed land used be approved and implemented. These include

conversion of forest lands to new commercial areas and narrowing of beach area. High

density area in the island is also expected to expand when current development trends

continues in the future.

Keywords: visuzalization, 3D, Community Viz, Boracay Island, coastal environment

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Coastal Environments

Coastal environments are key areas of development and biodiversity. Being located

where land meets the sea, it is characterized by remarkable biological productivity and

high accessibility. Rich with the world’s natural resources, they contain a wide diversity

of species and habitat types. Economic activities linked to coastal environments include

recreation and tourism, waterborne commerce, and energy and mineral production.

A coastal environment may have the following features – mangroves which serve an

array of ecological services such as fish nursery, scenic coastline for tourism and

recreation, seagrass meadows that are food source for aquatic animals, rivers from which

inland water flows out, vegetation that holds sediment run-off, offshore reefs that

dampens waves, coral reefs that houses marine plants and animals, sustainable fishing for

food supply and offshore renewable energy extracted from tides and wave motion..

Figure 1.Coastal Environment and its Features ©UNEP

In the Philippines, most of the developed cities and locations are located within the

coastal regions including the capital Manila and famous tourism destination like Boracay

Island in Malay, Aklan.

1.2 Boracay Island

Boracay Island is a world-renowned tourist destination. Boasting with its four-kilometer

white beach and related recreational activities, it was deemed as the world’s best beach

by the Travel and Leisure Magazine on 2012. As Boracay was becoming one of top

vacation destinations, both for international and local tourism market, development on

the island was rapidly increasing. If not regulated, this may result to irreversible impacts

to the natural resources of the island which may lead to the decline of the tourism

potential of the island.

On 2008, the Philippine’s Department of Tourism, one of the governing government

agency in the island, initiated a project on the formulation of a Comprehensive Land Use

Plan (CLUP) for the island. The CLUP shall serve as basis for enactment of appropriate

local ordinances, identification of relevant infrastructure and support needs, and

framework for future development and conservation of resources (SRDP, 2011).

With the project conclusion’s, two of its output includes an existing land use and a

proposed land use map.

Figure 2.Existing and Proposed Land Use Plan for Boracay Island

1.3 Objectives

Using the land use maps and other data sources, the study aims to create realistic 3D

models for the island of Boracay that can serve as a visualization tool for the local

stakeholders. Visualization will be implemented in Community Viz, an add-on extension

in ArcGIS primarily designed to help planners on their development projects thorough

various analysis and visualization tools.

In addition, the two land use scenarios and their corresponding 3D models will be

assessed and compared through visual inspection and numerical analysis.

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1 Study Area

The island of Boracay is situated off the northwest coast of Panay Island. With a total

area of nearly 10 square kilometers, it was mostly covered with native forest trees,

including coconut trees lining up the beachfront, prior to be being developed as a tourist

destination. Nowadays, forests are still present in the island but development for

residential and commercial uses is becoming more prevalent to accommodate more

business opportunity. Surrounding the island are corals and seagrass meadows, both of

which are decreasing in coverage area according to Tomoling (2014).

Figure 3.Satellite Image of the Study Area and its Features

2.2 Methodology

Creation of 3D models requires the following key elements – terrain, vegetation and

structures. For terrain, a WorldView satellite image was draped over a digital elevation

model rendered from height contours. 3D models were assigned for trees and structures

depending on their assigned land use. Height values were then extracted from a digital

surface model. Both wetlands and roads were assigned with appropriate texture such a

water body and asphalt, respectively. These elements are then exported to create the 3D

model, viewable in Community Viz’ Scenario 3D Viewer.

Figure 4.General Flowchart of the Project

2.2.1 Tree Canopy

Since actual ground data on trees in not available, remotely sensed vegetation cover

was used. Upon intersection with an arbitrary fishnet grid, vegetation grids for the

island were extracted. These grids are then assigned height values from a digital

surface model. A threshold value of 4 meters was used to differentiate trees from

other vegetation. Random points were then assigned inside those grids identified as

trees to represent the location of trees.

Figure 5.Tree Canopy Input and Output a) Remotely Sensed Vegetation Cover, b)

Fishnet Grid, c) Grid with Vegetation Cover, d) Digital Surface Model, e) Grids

Representing Trees and f) Random Points representing Trees

2.2.2 Built – Out Analysis

To determine the amount of development that will occur in the proposed land use,

built –out analysis was performed. Built – out is a technique applied by planners to

estimate the amount and location of development. A built – out analysis tool is

available in Community Viz and is subdivided into three steps – numeric, spatial and

visual. Numeric build-out calculates the mathematical holding capacity of land,

spatial build-out converts numeric building counts as points representing structures

and visual build-out designates a 3D building model for a visual scene.

To perform build-out analysis in Community Viz, an expected number of future

structures per hectare, floor area ratio (FAR), or a combination of both are needed.

Floor area ratio refers to the percentage of an area occupied by buildings or other

structures. For example, an FAR of 0.15 means that a 100 square meter lot is

occupied with buildings with a total area of 15 square meters. Looking at a worst case

scenario, values used for this study were from the sitio with highest FAR i.e. Sitio

Laguna with an FAR of 0.216 and 18.4 buildings per hectare.

Table 1.Floor Area Ratio per Sitio

Sitio No. of Buildings Floor Area Land Area FAR

Laguna 221 25,919.18 120,118.39 0.216

Bulabog 450 46,781.42 224,228.44 0.209

Manggayad 180 32,356.54 156,720.71 0.206

Balabag Proper 107 11,575.23 66,120.69 0.175

Diniwid 41 4,977.10 31,137.83 0.160

Ambulong 264 18,163.79 115,342.21 0.157

Sinagpa 77 9,849.85 74,295.15 0.133

Angol 88 9,641.84 80,291.29 0.120

Pinaungon 82 6,563.12 65,716.66 0.100

Tulubhan 68 6,244.21 64,991.29 0.096

Cagban 59 5,354.19 63,740.57 0.084

Yapak Proper 17 2,035.08 30,974.16 0.066

Ilawod 30 8,368.60 132,060.81 0.063

Lapus-lapus 27 19,501.13 461,190.10 0.042

Hagdan 120 16,439.55 409,372.29 0.040

Malabunot 1 33.06 2,692.66 0.012

Ilig-iligan 1 217.15 47,572.87 0.005

Ilaya - - 488,893.07 -

Total 1,833 224,021.04 2,635,459.19 0.085

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 3D Model for the Existing Land Use

Terrain was visualized by overlaying the satellite image over a 3D elevation model.

Similar to its real-world counterpart, areas of higher elevation were very prominent in the

terrain model. In addition, low lying areas appear to be relatively flat.

Figure 6.Terrain Model for Boracay Island

3D tree models were assigned for the created tree points. Coconuts were assigned for

those points within the vicinity of beaches while other types of trees were used for those

inland.

Figure 7.3D Tree Models

Structures were assigned models depending on their land use. Building footprints were

extruded to their heights and were applied with texture on their sides and top. On the

other hand, a bungalow type house was designated for residential areas. Lastly, a nipa hut

was used to represent houses in forests, grasslands and wetlands area to blend well with

the surrounding natural resources.

Figure 8.3D Building Models for a) Commercial, b) Residential and c) Forest, Grasslands and

Wetlands

Textures were applied to roads and water bodies. Community Viz offers a wide array of

selection for texture which can represent these landscape features.

Figure 9.Road and Water Bodies Texture

Combining these elements would result to a realistic 3D model for the existing land use

of the island.

Figure 10.3D Model for Boracay Island’s Existing Land Use (Aerial View)

Figure 11.3D Model for Boracay Island’s Existing Land Use

(Near Ground Level View along White Beach)

3.3 Built-Out Analysis and 3D Model for the Proposed Land Use

A total of 7,025 new buildings and a total building area of 98.2 hectares were computed

by the numeric build – out analysis. However, due to spatial constraints, only 7,020

buildings were placed on the ground by spatial build – out analysis. This lowers the total

building area to 97.8 hectares only. Figure 13 shows the location of these new buildings.

Figure 12.Results for Numeric and Spatial Build-Out Analysis

Figure 13.Location of New Buildings from Spatial Build-Out Analysis

Visual build-out analysis assigned 3D models for the results of spatial build-out analysis.

Combining with terrain, vegetation and existing structures, the proposed land use was

visualized.

Figure 14.3D Model for Proposed Land Use (Aerial View)

Figure 15.3D Model for Proposed Land Use (Near Ground View)

3.4 Comparison of the Existing and Proposed Land Use

The two land use scenarios were compared in terms of the land use classification and

area. It is noticeable that from being a forest dominated land use (460 hectares) in the

existing land use, the proposed land use features prioritizes commercial areas with 465

hectares for non-tourism activities and 22 hectares for tourism related ones.

Figure 16.Area Per Land Use in the Existing (top) and Proposed (Land Use)

Such increase in commercial areas would result to decline in forest areas to 239 hectares,

shrinking of residential areas from 146 hectares to 123 hectares only and decrease of

beach areas from 39 hectares to 17 hectares only.

Figure 17.Comparison of Commercial, Residential, Forests and Beach areas in the

Existing and Proposed Land Use

On the other hand, alongside with the increase of commercial areas is the increase in

institutional and infrastructure areas from 9 to 13 hectares and 1.2 to 1.8 hectares,

respectively. Also, wetland areas were increased from the current coverage of 16 hectares

to 25 hectares.

Figure 18.Comparison of Commercial, Residential, Forests and Beach areas in the

Existing and Proposed Land Use

Visually, the drastic change between the two land use scenarios is prominent when

compared side by side. Buildings stand in the proposed land use where forests are located

in the existing land use. Similarly, existing commercial areas became denser with the

proliferation of new developments.

Figure 18.Visual Comparison of the Existing and Proposed Land Use

4. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK

Based on land use maps and other data source, 3D models can provide a realistic

visualization of the land use for the island of Boracay. The 3D model for existing land

use showed that forestlands are still dominant in the island, however, houses and other

structures are already being built within it. In addition, structures located right in front of

natural resources such as beaches and wetlands. Open spaces are also present which can

either be developed or leave as is.

In order to develop the 3D model for the proposed land use, build – out analysis was

employed. Build – out analysis is helpful for planners by providing options that can help

them in planning and implementation of development. The proposed land use gave an

idea on how the island will look should the proposed land use be pushed through. It is

noticeable that commercial area from converted forest lands dominated the island. The

island will also be crowded of structures should the existing high density areas will

expand in other parts of the island.

To maximize the capability of Community Viz, analysis on the impatcs of development

will be studied in future projects. Using socio – economic, geophysical and

biological data, the study can be extended with an analytic approach on the impacts of

both the existing and proposed land uses to the natural resources, inhabitants, utilities

and other structures of the island.

5. REFERENCES

Agardy, T., Davis, J., Sherwood K., Vestergaard O. (2011). UNEP (2011): Taking

Steps toward Marine and Coastal Ecosystem-Based Management - An

Introductory Guide

Community Viz (2013). Community Viz Scenario 360 Help

Crist, P., Madden K., Varley I., Eslinger D., Walker D., Anderson A., Morehead

S., Dunton, K. (2009). Integrated Land-Sea Planning: Technical Guide to the

Integrated Land-Sea Planning Toolkit. EBM Tools Network.

Ford, M. (2014). Piedmont Together Scenario Modeling Technical

Documentation.

SRDP Consulting Inc. (2011). Formulation of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan

of Boracay Island. http://www.srdp.com.ph/proj_gis_urp_boraclup.php. Accessed

on October 2014.

Tomoling, E. (2014). GIS Assessment and Modeling of Environmental and

Socio-economic Impacts of Tourism Development in Boracay Island, Philippines.

Master’s Thesis, University of the Philippines

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author would like to acknowledge the Integrated Coastal Environment Conservation

and Adaptive Management (CECAM) Project for providing the data and other resources

for this study.