Project Description
Downtown San Diego is the heart of one of the most desirable cities in the nation in which to live, work, and play. With direct access from freeways, the San Diego International Airport, and a popular port of call for cruise ships, the downtown area offers a friendly, walkable environment. RICK’s Urban Design & Planning Division teamed with design partner MERJE Design to provide Civic San Diego (formerly CCDC) with an updated design of Downtown San Diego’s wayfinding system. The team was charged with meeting the 2006 Downtown Community Plan objectives, collaborating with the City of San Diego and the Unified Port of San Diego, performing analysis of all vehicular systems installed circa 1999, and providing parking and pedestrian enhancements to aid visitors’ wayfinding experience.
Sign inventories were collected using the latest GPS-enabled digital cameras, handheld GPS systems, and proven geographic information system (GIS) practices. Data was organized within a geodatabase for inventory, analysis, and future maintenance purposes. Automated data-driven reports were generated, showing sign attributes, locations, and photos. Additionally, GIS database files were exported to a user-friendly, interactive Google Earth program, allowing the public and key stakeholders an accessible project visual and greater understanding of existing deficiencies and programming solutions.