Autonomous vehicle driving in an intersection

Autonomous Vehicles: Technology, Trends and Planning Concerns

Explore the technology, terminology, history, trends and concerns behind autonomous vehicles and learn about the past, present and possible future of AVs on the global landscape — and the key challenges they present to planners.

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Course Info

  • Duration 6 video lessons (57 Mins)
  • Published Published
    2026
  • Trending Trending
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Browse Course Chapters

  • Chapter Locked
    1.
    Introduction
    Chapter Duration 2 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    2.
    Introduction to AV Technology
    Chapter Duration 4 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    3.
    Technical Background of AVs & Applications
    Chapter Duration 11 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    4.
    Global and U.S. AV Deployment Landscape
    Chapter Duration 13 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    5.
    Key Concerns for Planners
    Chapter Duration 14 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    6.
    AVs and the Future City Topology
    Chapter Duration 10 mins

What You Will Learn

Explain the fundamentals of AV technology and distinguish between automation levels, AV, and ADAS systems. Identify and evaluate current AV applications and global trends relevant to city and transportation planning. Analyze the implications of AV adoption for urban form, travel behavior, land use and safety outcomes.

Course Description

This session provides a comprehensive introduction to autonomous vehicle technology, covering the fundamentals of AV systems, their current applications and the evolving global and national landscapes. Participants will examine use cases in freight, robo-taxis and transit, as well as key regulatory, ethical and technical debates surrounding AV deployment. The session concludes by outlining the major concerns for city planning, including safety, congestion, curb management, land use shifts and infrastructure readiness.

Learn these skills

  • Parking
  • Pedestrian Planning
  • Technology
  • Transportation

AICP CM

This course is approved for 1 AICP CM Credit.

AIA CES

This course is 1 LU.

CIP

This course is eligible for self-reported CIP unstructured CPL units.

Meet Your Instructor

Jun Wang

Jun Wang

Jun Wang, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida Atlantic University. Her research sits at the intersection of urban design and transportation planning, with a focus on shared autonomous mobility, multimodal access, and evidence-based suburban retrofits.

Meet Instructor

Course Reviews

4.08
Sean Hoelscher 1

Sean Hoelscher 1

Extremely Satisfied
William

William

Satisfied
JOHN IACOANGELI

JOHN IACOANGELI

Extremely Satisfied
juliastanat

juliastanat

Extremely Satisfied

Course Reviews

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25%
33%
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Sean Hoelscher 1

Sean Hoelscher 1

Extremely Satisfied
William

William

Satisfied
JOHN IACOANGELI

JOHN IACOANGELI

Extremely Satisfied
juliastanat

juliastanat

Extremely Satisfied
Chris Dougherty

Chris Dougherty

Extremely Satisfied
The idea of being able to claw back travelway for more public domain is intriguing but it is unclear in practice and so it would be great to get some on the ground examples of this.
Jem Thompson

Jem Thompson

Normal

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