How to build a developable land map

Which parcels are most likely to be developed?

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Developable land map

Often the relationship between two measurements is revealing. An interesting way to look at a community is to map the value of the land relative to the value of its improvements. In this map, brown areas indicate land that is worth more than the improvements on it. Areas in green show that improvements on those parcels are worth more than the land beneath them. Stronger colors indicate a bigger difference between land and improvement values. Clusters of same-color parcels showcase patterns. 

Key steps

  • Add a parcel dataset with land and improvement values

    Add a parcel dataset with land and improvement value fields. If you don’t have a dataset, you may be able to discover one in Open Data.
    Explore Open Data

  • Apply the “Land to Improvement Ratio” formula

    Define the “Land to Improvement Ratio” on your map, using an Arcade expression. Simply copy the formula for the Arcade expression and follow the steps provided in this how-to blog.
    Read the blog

  • Choose relevant colors

    From the example you can see that brown represents parcels where the land is more valuable than improvements built upon it. Green shows parcels where the improvements carry most of the value. Tip: Set parcel outlines to white and 50 percent transparent.

  • Put meaning into the colors

    One recommendation is to use a dark brown color when the land is worth 100 percent of the value. Use a dark green color when the land is worth zero percent of the value. Try other settings, such as 90 percent or 10 percent, to see how this affects the map.
    Learn how to create this map
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