Computer-implemented land planning system and method designed to generate at least one conceptual fit solution to a user-defined land development problem

1. A computer-implemented land planning system designed to generate at least one conceptual cost-optimized solution to a user-defined land development problem, said system comprising:

means for electronically creating at least one candidate solution to the land development problem, said candidate solution comprising a plurality of interrelated engineering cost measurements applicable in development of an undeveloped land site, and said plurality of engineering cost measurements being selected from a group consisting of grading, site layout, and utilities;

means for accessing cost data for said plurality of engineering cost measurements;

means for employing an iterative, heuristic problem-solving strategy to manipulate the engineering cost measurements of said candidate solution until at least one cost-optimized solution to the land development problem is achieved, whereby a change to one of said plurality of engineering cost measurements for said candidate solution effects a change to another of said plurality of engineering cost measurements for that candidate solution; and

means for illustrating said cost-optimized solution to the land development problem.

2. A computer-implemented land planning system designed to generate at least one conceptual cost optimized solution to a user-defined land development problem, said system comprising:

means for accessing land development constraints for an undeveloped land site;

means for electronically creating at least one candidate solution which meets the land development constraints of the undeveloped land site, said candidate solution comprising a plurality of interrelated engineering cost measurements, and said plurality of engineering cost measurements being selected from a group consisting of grading, building pad, parking lot and access roads, storm water collection system, sanitary sewer collection system, and portable water system;

means for accessing cost data for said plurality of engineering cost measurements;

means for calculating a fitness score for said candidate solution based on said cost data for said engineering cost measurements;

means for employing an iterative, heuristic problem-solving strategy for manipulating said engineering cost measurements of said candidate solution to achieve an increased fitness score until at least one cost-optimized fit solution is achieved, whereby a change to one of said plurality of engineering cost measurements for said candidate solution effects a change to another of said plurality of engineering cost measurements for that candidate solution; and

means for illustrating said cost-optimized fit solution to the land development problem.

3. A computer-implemented land planning method designed to generate at least one conceptual cost-optimized solution to a user-defined land development problem, said method comprising:

using a computer, electronically creating at least one candidate solution to the land development problem, the candidate solution comprising a plurality of interrelated engineering cost measurements applicable in development of an undeveloped land site, and the plurality of engineering cost measurements being selected from a group consisting of grading, site layout, and utilities;

using a computer, employing an iterative heuristic problem-solving strategy for manipulating the engineering cost measurements of the candidate solution until at least one cost-optimized solution to the land development problem is achieved, whereby a change to one of the plurality of engineering cost measurements for the candidate solution effects a change to another of the plurality of engineering cost measurements for that candidate solution; and

illustrating the cost-optimized fit solution to the land development problem.

4. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 1 , and comprising means for accessing user preferences for the undeveloped land site.

5. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 4 , and comprising means for penalizing a fitness score of a candidate solution based on violation of a user preference.

6. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 1 , and comprising means for digitally representing the undeveloped land site in three-dimensional space.

7. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 6 , and comprising means for conceptually locating said engineering cost measurements within said three-dimensional space.

8. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 1 , wherein said means for illustrating said cost-optimized solution comprises documentation including at least one computer-generated drawing.

9. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 1 , wherein said means for illustrating said cost-optimized solution comprises documentation including an itemized cost listing of said engineering cost measurements.

10. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 1 , wherein said means for illustrating said cost-optimized solution comprises documentation delivered to the user via a global communications network.

11. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 1 , and comprising means for accessing land development constraints for the undeveloped land site.

12. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 1 , wherein said engineering cost measurements for grading are selected from a group consisting of demolition, clearing, grubbing, excavation, fill placement, retaining walls, erosion control, and finish grading.

13. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 1 , wherein said engineering cost measurements for site layout are selected from a group consisting of parking lot design, access roads, curbs, gutters, asphalt, and landscaping.

14. The computer-implemented land planning system according to claim 1 , wherein said engineering cost measurements for utilities are selected from a group consisting of drop inlets, manholes, piping, storm water collection system, sanitary sewer collection system, and portable water system.

15. The computer-implemented land planning method according to claim 3 , wherein the engineering cost measurements for grading are selected from a group consisting of demolition, clearing, grubbing, excavation, fill placement, retaining walls, erosion control, and finish grading.

16. The computer-implemented land planning method according to claim 3 , wherein the engineering cost measurements for site layout are selected from a group consisting of parking lot design, access roads, curbs, gutters, asphalt, and landscaping.

17. The computer-implemented land planning method according to claim 3 , wherein the engineering cost measurements for utilities are selected from a group consisting of drop inlets, manholes, piping, storm water collection system, sanitary sewer collection system, and portable water system.

18. The computer-implemented land planning method according to claim 3 , and comprising digitally representing the undeveloped land site in three-dimensional space.

19. The computer-implemented land planning method according to claim 18 , and comprising conceptually locating the engineering cost measurements within the three-dimensional space.

20. The computer-implemented land planning method according to claim 3 , wherein illustrating the cost-optimized solution comprises delivering documentation to the user via a global communications network.