Planetizen is requesting your input in creating the definitive list of mobile apps for professional, student, academic, or citizen planners—updated for a planning profession forever altered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

After a pandemic-length hiatus, Planetizen is relaunching its traditional documentation of the cutting-edge and tried-and-true mobile apps used by planners (urban, regional, city, or community). Just like the last time we conducted this survey in 2019, we are relying on input from the community of professional, student, academic, and citizen planners that make up the Planetizen audience.
Obviously a lot has changed since we last published a "Top Planning Apps" list in July 2019. The Internet has proven indispensable since the earliest days of the Covid-19 pandemic—as evidenced by the multitude of online dashboards, mapping tools, and numerous other online tools used by planners and the public to make sense of the new world as it evolved and mutated along with the once-novel coronavirus over the past 18-months-plus. The 2021 version of the survey adds a question about any apps that proved specifically, particularly helpful for planning during the pandemic.
Otherwise, this is the same survey Planetizen has been deploying since 2012, first written by Jennifer Evans Cowley, FAICP, former Planetizen contributor and current provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Texas.
The survey will still only take a couple minutes to complete. Please feel free to share the survey with colleagues to help Planetizen gather as much feedback as possible.
Planetizen will use the data collected in this survey to produce a list of contemporary planning apps later this year. For an example of the kind of information we hope to generate, and then share, see Planetizen's Best Planning Apps post from 2019.
Take the Best Planning Apps survey for 2021.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ascent Environmental
Borough of Carlisle
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
