Course Library
Browse our library of planning courses
Introduction to Planning: Zoning as an Implementation Tool
This course discusses the Zoning Ordinance - its structure, its relationship to the plan and the sometimes confusing procedures through which it is modified and varied.
Introduction to Planning: Implementation of the Plan
This course provides an overview of implementation strategies for a Comprehensive Plan and examines how those strategies fit together.
Conceptual Drawing for Planners
In this course, we will learn effective ways of drawing as a means to communicate design ideas and explore digital tools that support traditional drawing.
Mobile Drawing Apps for Planners
This course explores three affordable mobile drawing apps and how each might facilitate the planner’s creative process.
Writing for Planners: Documents that Work
This course reviews the different types of documents planners are called on to write—from one-page memos to complex master plans—and apply a simple writing approach that ensures the document's points are complete, compelling, and accurate.
Form-Based Codes 101: Preparing a Form-Based Code
This course explores basic questions and decisions to consider when preparing a form-based code. It also covers the different approaches to regulating urban form and provides guidance for selecting an organizing principle for your form-based code. Finally, the course explains the visioning and creating of a plan, followed by drafting, testing, and assembling your code.
Photoshop CC for Planners 4: Creating Visual Simulations
In this course, we'll use the skills and techniques covered in the previous three Photoshop CC courses to create an advanced visual simulation of a re-imagined public space.
Photoshop CC for Planners 3: Advanced Techniques
This course builds upon the first two courses in the "Photoshop CC for Planners" series. In this installment, we'll cover more advanced functions in the program and start building a digital library, which we'll use in the next course to create a complex visual simulation.
Photoshop CC for Planners 2: More Tools and Techniques
This course builds upon the first Photoshop CC course, giving you step-by-step instructions on how to use more complex tools and techniques in the program.
Photoshop CC for Planners 1: Basic Functions
Adobe Photoshop CC is widely recognized among design professionals as the premier image editing software, with a number of useful applications for urban planning. This course gives you a step-by-step introduction to the basic tools of Photoshop CC.
GeoDesign Using CommunityViz: Buildout and Visualization
This second course in the "GeoDesign with CommunityViz" series shows how the CommunityViz extension of ArcGIS can guide the design, and assess the impacts, of a project.
GeoDesign with CommunityViz: Land Use Designer
Learn how the CommunityViz extension of ArcGIS can guide the design of a project and assess the project's impact. This course specifically focuses on a suitability analysis using essential functions and the Land Use Designer wizard.
Creating Interactive iPlans with iBooks Author
This course provides an introduction to the basic functions of Apple iBooks Author and demonstrates how the program can be used to develop interactive documents such as interactive iPlans.
AutoCAD 101
This course provides an introduction to AutoCAD’s essential functions for first-time users and demonstrates how to create site plans, street sections, and other two-dimensional scaled diagrams.
Visual Simulation: Rendering Styles and Presentation with SketchUp
Learn to create finalized drawings in SketchUp that look more hand drawn than photorealistic. Using SketchUp and Adobe Photoshop, this course will help you take more control over final images than possible when only exporting from SketchUp.
Visual Simulation: Advanced Rendering in SketchUp
In this course, you'll learn to create an advanced rendering of a SketchUp site model, using a free third-party renderer called Kerkythea to design realistic lighting and shading. Then add components to your rendering in Adobe Photoshop.
Photoshop CS5 for Planners - Introduction
Design professionals widely recognize Adobe Photoshop as the premier image editing software, with many valuable applications for urban planning. This course gives planners a step-by-step introduction to the basic tools of Photoshop CS5.
Photoshop CS5 for Planners - Intermediate
Design professionals widely recognize Adobe Photoshop as the premier image editing software, with many valuable applications for urban planning. This course builds upon the Introduction to Photoshop course, offering step-by-step instructions on more of the helpful tools that come with Photoshop CS5.
Photoshop CS5 for Planners - Advanced
Adobe Photoshop is widely recognized among design professionals as the premier image editing software, with a great many valuable applications for urban planning. This course builds upon the Introduction to Photoshop and Intermediate Photoshop Courses, giving you step-by-step instructions on some of the advanced tools that come with Photoshop CS5.
Illustrator for Planners - Introduction
Adobe Illustrator is widely recognized among design professionals as the premier vector drawing software, with many valuable design and mapping applications for urban planning. This course gives you a step-by-step introduction to the basic tools of Illustrator CS5.