data layers in QGIS for urban design course

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

Urban planners and urban designers are interested in building places that embody beauty and hope. In this course, Emily Talen, PhD, FAICP, presents free urban design software tools that can help urban planners and urban designers visualize changes in the built environment to support the overarching goal of creating better places.

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Course Info

  • Duration 7 video lessons (59 Mins)
  • Published Published
    2018
  • 4.29
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Browse Course Chapters

  • Chapter Locked
    1.
    Introduction
    Chapter Duration 3 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    2.
    Course Series Overview
    Chapter Duration 6 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    3.
    GIMP Basics
    Chapter Duration 12 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    4.
    Inkscape Basics
    Chapter Duration 9 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    5.
    QGIS Basics
    Chapter Duration 14 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    6.
    SketchUp Basics
    Chapter Duration 9 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    7.
    Google Earth Basics
    Chapter Duration 5 mins

What You Will Learn

  • Five free urban design software tools: GIMP, INKSCAPE, QGIS, SketchUp, and Google Earth. 
  • How to download each urban design software tool.
  • Features and functionality of open source software tools for urban design.
  • An overview of the integration of each urban design software package

Course Description

Urban planners and urban designers are interested in building places that embody beauty and hope. In this course, Emily Talen, PhD, FAICP, presents free urban design software tools that can help urban planners and urban designers visualize changes in the built environment to support the overarching goal of creating better places.

Many of the tools used to communicate urban design concepts and interventions—Google Earth, GIS, SketchUp, image manipulation—are free, easy to learn, and transformative. With knowledge about planning principles and the design of place in hand, these communication tools fundamentally change the role of urban designer. This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts through free, open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to fully participate in the urban design process.

The first course in the "Urban Design for Planners" learning track introduces the open source city planning software you’ll use throughout the series to create analytical maps, 3D models, and 2D graphic designs. Learn how to download the urban design visualization software, the basic tools and functionality of each program, and how these skills can contribute to the urban design process.

In this course, Emily Talen advances several key principles, including sustainability, incrementalism, social rationale, and the art of alternatives. Each course in this track addresses the justification, analysis, and design of specific interventions. This course lays the foundation for the basic skills necessary to participate in the rest of the "Urban Design for Planners" learning track.

Learn these skills

  • 3D Modeling
  • Data Visualization
  • GIS
  • Mapping
  • Modeling & Simulation
  • Technology
  • Urban Design
  • GIMP
  • Inkscape
  • Trimble SketchUp
  • QGIS
  • Google Earth

AICP CM

This course is approved for 1 AICP CM credit.

AIA CES

This is 1 LU.

CNU-A

This course is approved for 1 CNU-A credit.

SACPLAN CPD

This course is approved for 1 SACPLAN CPD point.

Meet Your Instructor

Emily Talen

Emily Talen

Emily Talen is Professor of Urbanism at the University of Chicago. Her research is devoted to urban design and urbanism, especially the relationship between the built environment and social equity.

Meet Instructor

Join thousands of urban planners on Planetizen Courses

Great introduction to the various software tools utilized in Urban design.
- Ryan D.
5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review
Teaching the basics of QGIS in less than 15 mins is the most satisfying thing I have ever seen so far. Amazing!
- Ceff E.
5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review

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