Urban planner

An Urban Planner is responsible for developing plans and programs for land use in urban areas. They aim to create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas. Urban Planners assess the needs of the community, create short- and long-term plans, and work to implement those plans in a way that promotes sustainable development, efficient land use, and a high quality of life for residents.

The duties of urban planners typically include, but are not limited to:

• Research and Analysis: Conduct research and analyze data on demographics, economic trends, and environmental factors to inform planning decisions.
• Plan Development: Develop comprehensive plans for land use, zoning, infrastructure, public facilities, and community development.
• Public Engagement: Engage with the public through meetings, surveys, and workshops to gather input and build consensus around planning initiatives.
• Policy Making: Develop policies and regulations related to land use, zoning, transportation, and environmental protection.
• Project Management: Oversee the implementation of urban planning projects, including managing budgets, timelines, and collaboration with other stakeholders.
• Environmental Review: Assess the environmental impacts of development projects and develop strategies to mitigate negative effects.
• Collaboration: Work with government officials, architects, engineers, and developers to ensure plans are feasible and aligned with community goals.
• Documentation: Prepare detailed reports, maps, and presentations to communicate plans and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Compliance: Ensure all plans and projects comply with local, state, and federal regulations and standards.

The following job titles also refer to urban planner:

regional planner
city planner
urban planning engineer
town planner
country planner
urban planners

Urban Planners typically work in an office environment, but their role also involves fieldwork, attending public meetings, and site visits. Office work includes analyzing data, preparing plans and reports, and conducting research. Fieldwork involves assessing land use, infrastructure, and community conditions, which may require working in various weather conditions and environments. Public engagement is a significant aspect of the job, requiring strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with community members and stakeholders. Standard working hours are typical, but project deadlines, public meetings, or urgent community issues may require additional hours, including evenings and weekends.

A bachelor’s degree in urban planning, geography, architecture, civil engineering, or a related field is typically required. Advanced degrees or specialized training in urban planning, regional planning, or environmental planning can be advantageous. Coursework in land use planning, urban design, environmental planning, and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is beneficial.

Practical experience through internships, co-op programs, or entry-level positions in urban planning or related fields is highly valuable. Proficiency in using planning and mapping software, such as GIS and CAD (Computer-Aided Design), is essential. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are crucial for developing and presenting urban plans and policies. Continuous professional development and staying updated with advancements in urban planning technology and industry standards are important for career progression. Certifications or memberships in professional organizations, such as the American Planning Association (APA) or the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), can enhance job prospects and credibility in the field.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Urban planner is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to urban planner.

land planner
landscape architect
demographer
architect
interior architect

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of urban planner.

• Environmental policy: Local, national and international policies dealing with the promotion of environmental sustainability and the development of projects which reduce negative environmental impact and improve the state of the environment.
• Green space strategies: The authority’s vision on how to use its green space. This includes the goals it wants to achieve, the resources, methods, legislative framework, and time needed to meet these goals.
• Building codes: The set of guidelines that determine the minimum standards for buildings and other constructions in order to protect public health and safety.
• Zoning codes: The division of land into zones where various uses and activities are allowed, such as residential, agricultural, and industrial activities. These zones are regulated by legislative procedures and local authorities.
• Urban planning: Political and technical process that seeks to design the urban environment and optimize land use by considering various aspects such as infrastructure, water, and green and social spaces.
• Architecture regulations: The regulations, statutes, and legal agreements existing in the European Union in the field of architecture.
• Demography: The scientific field of study that deals with studying the size, structure, and distribution of the human population, and its geographical and temporal changes.

These skills are necessary for the role of urban planner.

• Liaise with local authorities: Maintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.
• Use geographic information systems: Work with computer data systems such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Meet building regulations: Communicate with construction inspection, e.g., by submitting schemes and plans, to ensure that all construction regulations, laws, and codes are met correctly.
• Advise on use of land: Recommend the best ways to use land and resources. Advise on locations for roads, schools, parks, etc.
• Study human population: Analyse data about the human population in a specific geographic area to uncover trends such as mortality rates, migration rates, and fertility rates.
• Execute feasibility study: Evaluate and assess the potential of a project, plan, proposition, or new idea. Realise a standardised study based on extensive investigation and research to support decision-making.
• Build business relationships: Establish a positive, long-term relationships between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its objectives.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of urban planner. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Cartography: The study of interpreting the elements depicted in maps, the measures and technical specifications.
• Landscape architecture: The principles and practices used in the architecture and design of outdoor areas.
• Project management: Understand project management and the activities that comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
• Historic architecture: The techniques and styles of various periods in history from an architectural standpoint.
• Topography: Graphic representation of the surface features of a place or region on a map indicating their relative positions and elevations.
• CAD software: The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.
• Scientific modelling: Scientific activity consisting in selecting the relevant aspects of a situation and aiming to represent physical processes, empirical objects and phenomena to allow a better understanding, visualisation or quantification, and to enable simulation that shows how this particular subject would behave under given circumstances.
• Construction methods: The various techniques and methods for erecting buildings and other constructions.
• Architectural conservation: The practice of recreating forms, features, shapes, compositions, and architectural techniques of past constructions in order to preserve them.
• Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
• Public housing legislation: The regulations and legislation concerning the construction, maintenance and allocation of public housing facilities.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of urban planner. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Design spatial layout of outdoor areas: Design the spatial layout and functional and architectural appearance of outdoor areas. Integrate green spaces, social spaces, and regulatory aspects in outdoor design.
• Conduct land surveys: Conduct surveys to determine the location and features of natural and man-made structures, on surface level as well as underground and underwater. Operate electronic distance-measuring equipment and digital measuring instruments.
• Advise on building matters: Provide advice on building matters to the various parties involved in construction projects. Inform them of important building considerations and consult on construction budgets.
• Promote sustainability: Promote the concept of sustainability to the public, colleagues and fellow professionals through speeches, guided tours, displays and workshops.
• Plan public housing: Plan the construction of public housing while adhering to architectural regulations and urban planning principles.
• Advise on pollution prevention: Advise individuals and organisations on the development and implementation of actions that aid in the prevention of pollution and its related risks.
• Communicate with local residents: Explain building and landscaping projects to local residents in order to obtain their approval and cooperation.
• Conduct public surveys: Conduct the procedures of a public survey from the initial formulation and compilation of the questions, identifying the target audience, managing the survey method and operations, managing the processing of acquired data, and analysing the results.
• Advise on architectural matters: Provide advice on architectural design, based on knowledge of matters such as spatial division, balance of construction elements, and aesthetics.
• Study traffic flow: Study the synergy between vehicles, chauffeurs, and transportation infrastructure such as roads, road signs, and lights to create a road network where traffic can move efficiently and without many traffic jams.
• Promote innovative infrastructure design: Throughout the coordination of an engineering project, promote the development of innovative and sustainable infrastructure in line with the latest developments in the field.
• Use CAD software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
• Develop concepts for city marketing: Work on innovative ideas to promote a positive image of a city or region to attract residents, investors and tourists, such as regenerating the city centre by creating a pedestrian zone or offering cultural events.
• Write scientific papers: Present the hypothesis, findings, and conclusions of your scientific research in your field of expertise in a professional publication.
• Provide technical expertise: Provide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision-makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.
• Advise architects: Give advice on design, safety issues, and cost reduction to architects during the pre-application phase.
• Advise on legislative acts: Advise officials in a legislature on the propositioning of new bills and the consideration of items of legislation.

2164 – Town and traffic planners

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References

1. Urban planner – ESCO
2. Urban and Regional Planners : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Urban Planner – SHRM
4. What Does an Urban Planner Do? – Indeed.com Singapore
5. Featured image: By Leif Skoogfors – This image is from the FEMA Photo Library (obsolete as of 2019).An archived copy may be found at the Wayback Machine (note: link may be permanently dead, as not all photos were backed up in this way).If the FEMA link is permanently dead, the photo can be found at NARA Access to Archival Databases (only works if photo was taken between 1989 and October 2004), or at City-data.com., Public Domain