Paul H. Patnode, AICP
Principal Research Associate

Paul Patnode is an Architect and licensed Urban Planner with extensive experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), 3D modeling, and Computer Systems and Graphical User Interface Design (GUI) design. He received his Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Urban Planning degrees at The University of Kansas.  He has applied his skills to numerous architectural and planning projects throughout the United States. 

Before joining the ESC in 1999, Mr. Patnode was a planner with the Community Development Group at HNTB – a national architectural, engineering, and planning firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. He was responsible for integrating GIS into the firm's planning operations, and worked directly with many small and large municipalities developing and utilizing GIS as a tool for growth management.  In 1998, Patnode relocated to New York, where he had an opportunity to develop his 3D visualization skills while working in the animation department of Sony Music Studios. Clients included Columbia Records, Epic Records, and ABC television.

At the ESC, Mr. Patnode was the project manager CommunityViz™ Planning Support Software, a software development project that integrates GIS with forecasting, impact analysis, and real-time 3D environments. He also designed the functional and design specifications for the system, and worked extensively with software developers and end users to match technology with user needs. He has since applied modules of CommunityViz™ to numerous ESC projects, including: the Baltimore Vision 2030 Plan, a vision plan for the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council, and he implemented Houston's Land Development Model in its entirety using the Scenario Constructor component of CommunityViz™. Mr. Patnode is the ESC's expert in Decision Support Systems used in planning and is knowledgeable of many systems in the marketplace. Mr. Patnode also co-teaches a workshop sponsored by the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy that is designed to teach planners how to plan better using decision support tools. Currently, he is ESC's project manager for the Community Development Plan for Kona, Hawaii.