A National Zoning Atlas to Inform Housing Research, Policy, and Public Participation

Wenfei Xu
Scott Markley
Sara C. Bronin
Diana Drogaris
Cornell University

Through a unique combination of data science and legal analysis techniques, the National Zoning Atlas is creating the first public, online repository of standardized data about zoning. This article first discusses the context for and methodology behind the atlas. It then establishes three possibilities for using the atlas, including facilitating research (including fair housing research), strengthening planning, and empowering the public.