Exploring Web 2.0 in Urban Planning

Last year I had the opportunity to teach a graduate course on "Web 2.0 for Policy and Planning" at the University of Southern California's School of Policy, Planning & Development. Although I am co-teaching a different class this year, I have updated my course website with a revised course syllabus and extensive reading list on Web 2.0 and planning, based on what I learned from teaching the course in Spring, 2009.

2 minute read

March 11, 2010, 2:33 PM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

Last year I had the opportunity to teach a graduate course on "Web 2.0 for Policy and Planning" at the University of Southern California's School of Policy, Planning & Development.

Although I am co-teaching a different class this year, I have updated my
course website with a revised course syllabus and extensive reading list on Web 2.0 and planning, based on what I learned
from teaching the course in Spring, 2009.

Each student selected a particular Web 2.0 technology and examined the technology through a planning or urban policy lense. I selected the best six student white papers from the
course, and have now assembled them in a short book, Exploring Web 2.0
in Urban Planning.

Exploring Web 2.0 in Urban Planning

A collection of six white papers,
Edited by Chris Steins | Published by Planetizen Press

Abstract: Emerging technologies are fundamentally changing how we
plan, develop and manage our urban areas. Likewise, planning
professionals are increasingly being called on to adopt new
technologies to plan, communicate planning concepts and engage citizens
in the planning process. This collection of articles introduces a range
of Web 2.0 technologies that can be applied to the field of planning,
including Web surveys, Twitter, Web-based geographic information
systems, Google transit, citizen engagement strategies, and image
visualizations. The six white papers in this document were researched
and written by authors at the School of Policy, Planning, and
Development University of Southern California as part of a Spring, 2009
graduate- level course on Internet Technologies and Urban Planning.

Contents

Introduction, By Dr. David Slaone
Louisiana Speaks: A Case Study: Examining the Use of the Web to Engage Residents in the Planning Process, By Josie Noah
Twitter as an Urban Planner's Tool, By Sen Sugano
The Use of Web GIS for Economic Development, By Mengchen Sun
An Evaluation of Transit Agency Trip Planners vs. Google Transit, By Simon Vuong
Candidate Obama vs. President Obama: A Study of Web 2.0 Strategies, By Jason Wise
Picturing Smart Growth, National Resources Defense Council, By Chin-Yee Wong

The book is available for free to download (PDF), or
available in printed form for a modest printing fee (Ordering information is at the bottom of the linked page.)

Public Participation Visualization Web 2.0 Google Maps WebGIS Barack Obama Twitter View More

Chris Steins

Chris Stines is Planetizen's former Editor and the founder of Urban Insight, a leading digital agency. Chris has 25 years of experience in technology consulting and urban planning and has served as a consultant to public sector state, county, and local agencies, Fortune 500 private firms, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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