Planner in Tech: Colin Murtoff
By Brian O’Leary, AICP and Elle Steinman
Mapping, GIS, data analysis, and scenario development are key aspects of contemporary planning, and many firms and organizations have specialists supporting these areas. One of these specialists at the Chester County Planning Commission is Colin Murtoff, who handles projects that deal with mapping and spatial analysis. On a typical day, Colin can be found working on projects that range from static maps for municipal comprehensive plans and studies, to interactive maps that add additional levels of user-interaction.
After graduating from West Chester University with a degree in Geography and Planning, Colin pursued an internship at a local town planning and landscape architecture corporation where he was able to gain experience and apply his GIS skills. When he recognized the opportunity for professional growth in a field that interested him, Colin applied to an open position at the Chester County Planning Commission in 2016 – and the rest is history!
While Colin enjoys all of his projects and views each one as a new opportunity to further his knowledge and skills in the GIS field, some of his favorites include working on the county’s Historic Resource Atlas Project, as well as the National Register Historic Resources Interactive Map. “I’ve always had an interest in historic resources and historic preservation, and these projects were, and continue to be, educational and of great interest to me,” he said.
Originally from Carlisle Pennsylvania, Colin graduated from Boiling Springs High School and currently resides in Chester County just a few miles outside of the West Chester Borough. In his spare time, he can most likely be found playing golf or volleyball, hiking, or at the gym. “A body in motion stays in motion, and I love to keep it moving,” Colin noted. Additionally (and something most people don’t know), is that Colin is a horror theme fanatic and he’s always looking for the next movie or show to provide a good scare.
Colin’s favorite place in Chester County is downtown West Chester, as he explained that it provides the perfect mix of nostalgia and an opportunity to make new memories. He also enjoys spending time at St. Peter’s Village, Longwood Gardens, and Marsh Creek State Park.
When asked what his favorite life philosophy is, Colin replied with a simple phrase that he reminds himself often. “Our lives are often filled with constant stress, and it can be easy to fall into thoughts of anger and negativity. If I ever find myself doing this, I simply remind myself to ‘choose happiness’ whenever I can. A simple, yet helpful reminder,” he commented.
When asked about GIS at Chester County, Colin noted that GIS is an integral part of the planning process at CCPC and other planning departments across the state of Pennsylvania. Advancements in GIS technology have steered the county in the direction of creating interactive maps and applications, using ArcGIS Online resources such as Experience Builder, Instant Apps, Dashboards, Sites and Storymaps, with the goal of informing the public about planning efforts through a robust, interactive map-based system. This system allows its users to pan and zoom to access various levels of detail and analyze information of interest to them and their constituents.
Colin added that the technology and GIS world is rapidly changing. To help planners understand these trends, he graciously offered the following links:
- Cloud computing:
- Mobile GIS:
- Machine learning/deep learning and artificial intelligence:
- Drone-based mapping:
- 3D mapping and artificial twins:
- Real-time data analysis:
- Augmented reality:
The Future of GIS: Trends and Innovation in GIS Technology
A Monumental Shift for Planners Starts with GIS (ESRI Blog)
Current Community Planning (ESRI)
Also, getting the data needed for GIS maps can be challenging. The following resources can be helpful:
Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA)
PA Office of Administration GIS Data
Pennsylvania DEP Open Data Portal
PA-SHARE: Pennsylvania’s Historic and Archaeological Resource Exchange
