Oliver Faase Sustainable Urban Planner · Seattle, WA
Sustainable Urban Planner · Seattle, Washington

Hi, I'm Oliver Faase

Planning better places through GIS, design, and environmental analysis.

I am an urban planning student at Cal Poly focused on GIS, environmental planning, sustainable urban design, and community centered development. My work connects spatial analysis, policy, design, and real world land management experience.

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City and Regional Planning at Cal Poly · Minor in Sustainable Environments · GIS · Environmental Planning · Urban Design
Oliver Faase, Sustainable Urban Planner
May 2027
Graduating
65+
Planning & design projects
Seattle, WA
Based in
Selected work

Featured Projects

GISCal Poly GIS studio project

Cal Poly Studio GIS Database

An interactive ArcGIS platform organizing more than 20 years of Cal Poly studio work and 65 plus projects into one searchable spatial dataset.

Role: GIS analysis, spatial data management, StoryMap design

GISArcGIS OnlineStoryMaps
Urban DesignCommon Ground redevelopment

Common Ground

A walkable, mixed use redevelopment of 230 residential units with a community center and stormwater conscious green infrastructure.

Role: Site planning, illustrative design, circulation

HousingMixed UseUrban Design
EnvironmentalInitial Study Cerro San Luis

Initial Study, Cerro San Luis

A CEQA style review of a 130 acre concept that uses GIS constraints analysis to site 193 clustered units while preserving over 113 acres of open space.

Role: GIS constraints analysis, environmental review

GISEnvironmental ReviewCEQA
What I do

Skills

GIS & Spatial Analysis

ArcGIS Pro and QGIS for spatial data analysis, suitability mapping, parcel analysis, buffers, overlays, and clean map design.

ArcGIS ProQGISSuitability MappingOverlays
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Transportation Planning

Complete streets, bike and pedestrian planning, transit oriented development, traffic calming, circulation analysis, and multimodal connectivity.

Complete StreetsBike/PedTODMultimodal
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Environmental Planning

CEQA and NEPA awareness, habitat restoration, climate resilience, stormwater, wildfire planning, green infrastructure, and sustainable land use.

CEQA/NEPAGreen InfrastructureStormwaterClimate Resilience
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Urban Design & Site Planning

Streetscape and public realm design, walkability, mixed use development, placemaking, and detailed site analysis.

Public RealmWalkabilityPlacemakingSite Analysis
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Community Engagement

Public outreach, stakeholder engagement, workshop facilitation, survey design, and equity centered, community centered planning.

OutreachStakeholdersFacilitationEquity
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Wildfire & Resilience Planning

Wildfire risk analysis, defensible space, evacuation planning, WUI planning, fuel management, and climate adaptation, grounded in my firefighting background.

Wildfire RiskWUIFuel ManagementClimate Adaptation
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Policy & Zoning Analysis

Zoning code review, general and specific plans, land use compatibility, housing policy, environmental justice, and development standards.

ZoningGeneral PlansHousing PolicyDev Standards
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Research & Writing

Planning reports, memos, site inventory, precedent studies, policy briefs, staff reports, and academic research.

ReportsMemosPrecedent StudiesBriefs
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Project Management

Studio teamwork, collaboration, fieldwork, presentation design, deadlines, client style deliverables, and professional communication.

TeamworkDeliverablesPresentationCommunication
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Technical Skills

ArcGIS ProArcGIS OnlineQGISGoogle EarthSimTable PythonRSQLTableauExcelMicrosoft Office Adobe IllustratorInDesignPhotoshopSketchUpRevitAutoCADTwinMotionHTML/CSSAI PromptingChatGPTClaudeGeminiCopilot
Background

Experience

Environmental GIS Intern, Port of Tacoma

Environmental GIS and spatial analysis supporting port operations and Puget Sound region planning.

GIS Intern, Cal Poly CRP

Building an ArcGIS platform that organizes 20 plus years of studio projects into one interactive spatial dataset.

Wildland Firefighter

Field tested resilience across large wildfire events, with logistics, fuel management, and emergency response.

Let's plan better places.

Looking for a planning, GIS, or environmental design professional? I'd love to hear from you.

01 · Profile

About

A planning, GIS, and environmental design candidate preparing for full time roles after graduation.

My background

Planning, mapping, and resilient communities

I am Oliver Faase, a City and Regional Planning student at California Polytechnic State University with a minor in Sustainable Environments. My work focuses on GIS, environmental planning, sustainable urban design, land use, transportation, and community centered planning.

I bring a practical perspective to planning through my experience as a wildland firefighter, where I worked in land management, emergency response, logistics, and high pressure team environments. That background helps me think about the relationship between communities, landscapes, wildfire risk, infrastructure, and long term resilience.

Outside of planning, I play club Ultimate Frisbee for SloCORE, where I am a captain this year and serve in leadership as Vice President and Head of Fundraising. I have also volunteered with Search and Rescue, helping train nationally certified SAR dogs.

A few things about me

  • I play club Ultimate Frisbee for SloCORE.
  • I am a team captain this year and serve as Vice President and Head of Fundraising for SloCORE.
  • I have experience as a wildland firefighter.
  • I have volunteered with Search and Rescue and helped train nationally certified SAR dogs.
  • I enjoy work that connects maps, people, land, and long term community resilience.
Education
B.S. City and Regional Planning, graduating May 2027
Minor in Sustainable Environments
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Focus areas
GISEnvironmental PlanningUrban DesignLand UseTransportationCommunity Centered Planning
Tools
ArcGIS ProQGISPythonRSQLSimTableTableauIllustratorInDesignPhotoshopSketchUpRevitAutoCADExcelAI PromptingChatGPTClaudeGeminiCopilot
Strengths
Site planningSpatial analysisEnvironmental reviewPublic facing graphicsStakeholder engagementResearch

See the work behind the words.

Explore my planning, GIS, and environmental design case studies.

02 · Portfolio

Projects

Planning, GIS, and environmental design case studies, from a 20 year GIS database to a 230 unit redevelopment and a full environmental review.

GIS · StoryMapCal Poly GIS studio database mapOpen live StoryMap ↗

Cal Poly Studio GIS Database & StoryMap

Cal Poly City and Regional Planning Department · GIS Intern · ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, StoryMaps
Overview

A public facing ArcGIS platform that brings more than 20 years of Cal Poly studio projects, over 65 in total, into a single interactive spatial dataset that is easy to explore, compare, and reuse.

My role

I lead the GIS analysis, spatial data management, database structure, and the StoryMap that makes the archive explorable.

Process

I collect and standardize project data, clean spatial layers, review coordinate systems, organize attributes, and improve consistency across historic planning projects so they can live in one unified dataset.

Outcome

One interactive platform mapping 65 plus studio projects and about 20 years of department history, supporting faculty, students, alumni, and department leadership in research and teaching.

Skills applied

GIS, spatial data management, database design, StoryMaps, research.

GISArcGIS OnlineSpatial DataDatabaseStoryMap
Urban Design · HousingCommon Ground site plan

Common Ground, Medium Density Redevelopment

1150 Laurel Lane, San Luis Obispo · Urban Design Studio · Illustrator, SketchUp, AutoCAD
Overview

Common Ground reimagines an underused site as a connected, medium density neighborhood of 230 residential units in a mixed use block structure, with ground floor commercial and a central community center.

My role

I led site planning and the illustrative design used to communicate the concept, including land use, circulation, and public realm graphics.

Process

I studied the site and surrounding context, tested density and land use options, designed a connected bike and pedestrian network, and developed a stormwater conscious landscape with bioswales and an expanded tree canopy.

Outcome

A complete neighborhood concept with 230 units, a community center, continuous bike and pedestrian connectivity, generous parks and open space, and green infrastructure that manages stormwater on site.

Skills applied

Urban design, site planning, housing, green infrastructure, graphics.

Urban DesignHousingMixed UseWalkabilityGreen Infrastructure
Environmental · GISInitial Study Cerro San Luis

Initial Study, Cerro San Luis Concept

San Luis Obispo · Environmental Planning · ArcGIS Pro, CEQA style review
Overview

An environmental planning case study evaluating a 130 acre mixed use residential concept of 193 clustered units, with more than 113 acres preserved as permanent open space, pairing a conceptual design with a full environmental review.

My role

I ran the GIS constraints analysis, the environmental review, and the preparation of a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.

Process

I built GIS layers analyzing slope, wildfire hazard, hydrology, soils, and biological resources, then used that analysis to steer development away from sensitive and high risk land, and reviewed air quality, noise, and utilities.

Outcome

A clustered development pattern that preserves more than 113 acres of open space, places 193 units on the least constrained land, and carries a documented environmental review with mitigation measures.

Skills applied

GIS, environmental review, CEQA style analysis, wildfire and hazard analysis, hydrology.

GISEnvironmental ReviewCEQAWildfireOpen Space
Master PlanningNipomo Master Plan

Nipomo Master Plan & Redevelopment

Nipomo, California · Planning Studio · Illustrator, ArcGIS
Overview

The Nipomo Master Plan addresses long term growth through new housing, mixed use districts, open space, and circulation, while respecting the area's rural identity and the cultural history surrounding the Dana Adobe.

My role

I contributed to land use planning, circulation, stakeholder informed design, and mapping.

Process

I incorporated stakeholder feedback, planned land use and circulation, structured open space and districts, and worked the rural and historic context into the plan.

Outcome

A master plan that balances new housing and mixed use districts with preserved open space, stronger circulation, and protection of local rural and cultural identity.

Skills applied

Master planning, community engagement, housing, circulation, open space, mapping.

Master PlanningHousingStakeholder EngagementOpen SpaceCirculation
Urban DesignOlive Street redevelopment

Olive Street & Santa Rosa Redevelopment

San Luis Obispo · Urban Design · Illustrator, SketchUp
Overview

This redevelopment reworks the Olive Street and Santa Rosa intersection into a denser, more walkable place, with protected bike lanes, a transit stop, courtyard housing, and a lively public realm.

My role

I designed the street and block redesign and programmed the public realm amenities.

Process

I redesigned the intersection and street section, studied density, floor area ratio, and parking, and programmed public amenities including a courtyard, a food truck court, a playground, and street parking.

Outcome

A more walkable corridor with protected bike lanes, a transit stop, courtyard housing, and active ground floor uses framed by a redesigned intersection.

Skills applied

Urban design, multimodal circulation, density and floor area ratio, public realm design.

Urban DesignMultimodalDensityFARPublic Realm
Technical · ComplianceADU capstone project

ADU Capstone Project

Capstone · SketchUp, Revit, AutoCAD
Overview

This capstone takes an accessory dwelling unit from initial zoning research all the way to permit ready construction documents, focusing on real code and permitting requirements.

My role

I handled the code and zoning research, the 3D modeling, and the construction documentation.

Process

I researched zoning and building code, confirmed permitting requirements, modeled the unit in SketchUp and Revit, and prepared construction documents.

Outcome

A code compliant ADU design with permit ready construction documents that demonstrate zoning, building code, and documentation fluency.

Skills applied

Zoning analysis, code compliance, 3D modeling, construction documents, Revit.

ADUZoningCode ComplianceConstruction DocsRevit

Want the full portfolio?

Download the complete PDF or get in touch to talk through any project.

03 · Background

Experience

GIS, environmental, and field experience. My wildfire background feeds directly into how I think about resilience, land management, and the real constraints communities face.

GIS Intern, Environmental
Port of Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington

Environmental GIS and spatial analysis supporting port operations, sustainability initiatives, and planning across the Puget Sound region. Produced mapping and spatial data that inform environmental decision making and connect port activity with the surrounding landscape and waterways.

ArcGIS ProEnvironmental GISSpatial AnalysisSustainability
GIS Intern
Cal Poly City and Regional Planning Department
San Luis Obispo, California

Building an ArcGIS based platform that organizes more than 20 years of Cal Poly City and Regional Planning studio projects into a unified and interactive spatial dataset. Responsibilities include collecting and standardizing project data, cleaning spatial layers, reviewing coordinate systems, organizing attributes, and improving consistency across historic planning projects. This work supports faculty, students, alumni, and department leadership by making past studio work easier to access, compare, and use for future planning research and teaching.

ArcGIS OnlineSpatial DataDatabaseStoryMaps
Wildland Firefighter
Patrick Environmental Co. and Miller Timber Services
Pacific Northwest and Idaho

Supported wildfire suppression, fuel management, logistics, and land management operations across large scale fire events in the Pacific Northwest and Idaho. Worked in high risk field conditions while coordinating with crew members, maintaining equipment, supporting fire camp operations, and applying fuel assessment techniques to reduce fire spread and protect structures. This experience strengthened my understanding of wildfire risk, landscape management, emergency response, environmental resilience, and the importance of planning for communities at the wildland urban interface.

ResilienceLand ManagementLogisticsEmergency Response

Let's connect.

Reach out about planning, GIS, or environmental design opportunities.

04 · Praise

Recommendations

What professors and instructors have said about my work, including a letter of recommendation from my GIS professor in Copenhagen.

Kind words

What My Teachers Have Said

You made me feel so proud, Oliver, and I loved watching you improve with each speech. This was an outstanding demo and I was really impressed. Great job, and be sure to reward yourself!

Rebecca Laidlaw

Your proposal was a pleasure to read. I'd love to see this published, either in Fresh Voices, the campus newspaper, or as an editorial in a local publication. You did a superb job and should be very, very proud.

Lauren India Henley

A very good urban design exploration which has resulted in a thoughtful and intentional project. Well done!

Thandolwenkosi Thembalihle Mthembu
Reference

Letter of Recommendation

Rasmus Ekman
GIS Specialist, Department for Sustainability, City of Copenhagen · External Lecturer, DIS Copenhagen

I can confidently recommend Oliver for roles involving GIS analysis, spatial data management, and web based map development.

I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation in support of Oliver Faase. As an external lecturer at DIS, Study Abroad in Scandinavia, I had the pleasure of being Oliver's professor during the Fall 2025 semester in the course Geographic Information Systems: Applied Climate Change Cases.

During his time as my student, Oliver was punctual and actively participated in classroom discussions, helping to stimulate and enrich the classroom experience. Oliver proved to be a dedicated and diligent individual, and I believe these qualities testify to his potential as a GIS professional and his ability to take on independent technical challenges.

GIS is a complex program, and throughout the semester Oliver proved he was independently motivated and proactive in his work by creating thorough and complete assignments. When students were encouraged to gather additional datasets for their final projects, Oliver acquired data from outside the class and independently cleaned, structured, and prepared it for spatial analysis. He demonstrated strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to troubleshoot technical issues when workflows did not initially function as expected.

In addition to his technical skills, Oliver showed persistence and composure when working through challenges, which is an important quality when working with GIS platforms and web based applications. His structured approach to problem solving and willingness to independently research solutions make him well suited for tools such as ArcGIS Experience Builder. I am confident in his ability to learn new GIS software environments and apply his foundational knowledge to develop interactive and well organized mapping products.

Based on my experience with Oliver, I can confidently recommend him for roles involving GIS analysis, spatial data management, and web based map development. His motivation, technical competence, and professional attitude will make him a valuable addition to any team.

Best regards,
Rasmus Ekman
External Lecturer, Environmental Science of the Arctic, DIS
GIS Specialist, Department for Sustainability, City of Copenhagen

05 · Say hello

Contact

Reach out anytime with questions, comments, or opportunities. I'd love to connect.

Get in touch

Let's connect

Email is the quickest way to reach me. You can also download my resume and portfolio or find me on LinkedIn.