Course Details

GIS for Urban and Regional Planning Training Course

Introduction

Urban and regional planning is a multifaceted discipline that requires the integration and analysis of vast amounts of diverse data—demographic, economic, environmental, infrastructure, and land use—all of which have a crucial spatial component. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as an indispensable tool for planners, offering powerful capabilities to visualize, analyze, and manage this complex spatial information. GIS allows planners to understand existing conditions, identify trends, evaluate potential impacts of development, model future scenarios, and communicate planning proposals effectively to stakeholders and the public. From conducting site suitability analysis and analyzing population growth patterns to designing public transit routes and assessing environmental sustainability, GIS provides the foundational intelligence for informed and sustainable urban and regional development. Without proficiency in GIS, planners risk relying on outdated methods, making decisions based on incomplete spatial understanding, encountering inefficiencies in data management, and struggling to convey complex spatial concepts to diverse audiences.

Conversely, mastering GIS for urban and regional planning empowers professionals to conduct robust spatial analyses, create compelling maps and visualizations, develop data-driven plans, facilitate public participation, and ultimately contribute to the creation of more livable, equitable, and resilient communities. This course is designed to provide a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience, directly applying GIS concepts and tools to the unique challenges and opportunities within the planning domain. Leveraging GIS allows for more efficient and effective planning processes, leading to better outcomes for urban and regional areas. Our intensive 5-day "GIS for Urban and Regional Planning" training course is meticulously designed to equip urban planners, regional planners, city managers, civil engineers, environmental planners, land resource managers, and policymakers with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to confidently leverage GIS for strategic planning, development management, and sustainable urban growth.

Duration

5 Days

Target Audience

The "GIS for Urban and Regional Planning" training course is specifically tailored for professionals and students involved in the various aspects of urban and regional development and management. This includes:

• Urban Planners and City Planners: For daily planning tasks, land-use analysis, and master planning.
• Regional Planners: Working on broader regional development strategies and resource allocation.
• Civil Engineers: Involved in infrastructure planning and development.
• Environmental Planners and Consultants: Assessing environmental impacts and sustainability.
• Land Use and Zoning Administrators: Managing regulations and permits.
• Public Works Professionals: For utility management and infrastructure maintenance.
• Economic Development Specialists: For site selection and business attraction.
• Community Development Practitioners: Facilitating participatory planning processes.
• GIS Analysts: Specializing in the planning sector.
• Students and Academics in urban studies, planning, geography, or related fields.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "GIS for Urban and Regional Planning" training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamental role of GIS in the urban and regional planning process.
• Acquire, manage, and integrate diverse spatial data relevant to planning.
• Perform core spatial analysis techniques for land-use suitability, demographic analysis, and infrastructure assessment.
• Create informative and persuasive maps and visualizations for planning reports and presentations.
• Utilize GIS for site selection, master planning, and scenario modeling.
• Apply GIS for assessing environmental impacts and promoting sustainable development principles.
• Understand data governance and ethical considerations in using GIS for public planning.
• Develop strategies for implementing and leveraging GIS to support urban and regional planning initiatives.

 Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to GIS in Planning

• Overview of Urban and Regional Planning principles and processes.
• The evolution of GIS and its indispensable role in modern planning.
• Types of spatial data critical for planning (e.g., parcels, zoning, infrastructure, demographics).
• Understanding the GIS workflow in a planning context: Data, analysis, visualization, decision.
• Case studies of successful GIS applications in urban and regional planning.

Module 2: Spatial Data Management for Planners

• Sources of spatial data for planning: Government agencies, open data portals, remote sensing.
• Importing and integrating diverse data formats (Shapefiles, GeoJSON, CAD, spreadsheets).
• Geodatabase design principles for organizing planning data (feature classes, domains, subtypes).
• Data quality control and validation for planning datasets.
• Best practices for data update, maintenance, and versioning in planning projects.

Module 3: Core Spatial Analysis for Land Use and Development

• Querying and Selection: Identifying properties based on zoning, parcel size, or ownership.
• Buffering: Analyzing proximity to amenities, hazards, or infrastructure.
• Overlay Analysis: Combining layers for land suitability analysis (e.g., intersect, union).
• Calculating areas, perimeters, and densities for land-use assessment.
• Spatial statistics basics: Summarizing data by administrative boundaries or planning zones.

Module 4: Demographics, Socio-Economic Analysis, and Public Services

• Working with census data and other demographic datasets in GIS.
• Creating thematic maps for population density, income levels, and housing characteristics.
• Analyzing access to public services (e.g., schools, healthcare, parks) using service areas.
• Identifying underserved areas and spatial inequalities.
• Using GIS for community needs assessment and resource allocation.

Module 5: Infrastructure and Network Analysis for Planning

• Mapping and managing urban infrastructure: Roads, utilities, public transit.
• Introduction to network datasets for transportation planning.
• Route optimization for public transport or service delivery.
• Service area analysis for accessibility to emergency services or public facilities.
• Analyzing infrastructure capacity and identifying areas for expansion or improvement.

Module 6: Environmental Planning and Sustainability

• Using GIS for environmental impact assessment (EIA).
• Mapping and analyzing natural hazards (flood zones, seismic risk).
• Suitability analysis for green spaces, conservation areas, and renewable energy sites.
• Analyzing urban heat islands and promoting green infrastructure.
• Monitoring land-use change and urban sprawl for sustainable development goals.

Module 7: Site Selection, Master Planning, and Scenario Modeling

• Systematic site selection methodologies using multi-criteria analysis in GIS.
• Creating detailed master plans and development proposals in a spatial context.
• Scenario planning: Modeling the impacts of different development options (e.g., population growth, zoning changes).
• Visualizing future urban landscapes in 2D and 3D.
• Integrating CAD data into GIS for engineering and architectural planning.

Module 8: GIS for Public Participation and Decision Support

• Creating compelling maps and visualizations for public meetings and reports.
• Utilizing web GIS for public engagement and data sharing.
• Developing interactive dashboards for key planning indicators.
• Understanding ethical considerations in using spatial data for planning (privacy, equity).
• Best practices for integrating GIS into the planning decision-making process and policy formulation.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com