Essential Methods for Planning Practitioners

This book assembles and organizes a selected range of methods and techniques that every planning practitioner should know to be successful in the contemporary global urban landscape. The book is unique because it links different aspects of the planning/policy-making enterprise with the appropriate methods and approaches, thus contextualizing the use of specific methods and techniques within a sociopolitical and ethical framework. This volume familiarizes readers with the diverse range of methods, techniques, and skills that must be applied at different scales in dynamic workplace environments where planning policies and programs are developed and implemented. This book is an invaluable resource in helping new entrants to the planning discourse and profession set aside their own disciplinary biases and empowering them to use their expert knowledge to address societal concerns.
Chapter One makes the case for the book, why people should read it, and how they should approach the material. Chapter Two is a survey of contemporary planning theory, highlighting both successes and failures. Here, the book makes the argument that understanding historical and contemporary planning theories are necessary to understand how to select and deploy appropriate methods for data analysis, synthesis, and communication. Chapter Three introduces readers to two case studies of neighborhoods in New York City, describing them using different types of maps and data visualizations to tell a context-sensitive story that links history, geography, politics, and economics that drive change in urban areas. Chapter Four discusses approaches that help to frame planning questions, emphasizing the importance of communication and visioning techniques. Chapter Five delves deeper into data-centered approaches from anthropological methods to modeling and scenario building, critically reflecting the pros and cons of each. Chapter Six reviews the planning profession’s complex relationship with public involvement and makes the case for civic engagement to anchor planning practice. Chapter Seven discusses the challenges of implementation, encouraging practitioners to be cognizant of the politics and policies that impact and influence their technical analyses and contributions. Chapter Eight highlights individual skills that practitioners must cultivate to be successful in their work. The book concludes by making the case for a 21st century planning that is context-sensitive, inclusive, and integrates social and spatial concerns.