Knowing the social makeup of a community can be crucial to making informed, equitable policy decisions. The study of demographics uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources to gain a deeper understanding of how people of different ages, ethnicities, and abilities experience urban spaces and interact with the built environment and public space. Learn how to access, interpret, and manipulate demographic data to boost your planning practice.
All Demographics Courses
Getting There
Getting There was produced by planners in New Hampshire to inform other planners of the concepts and benefits of universal design. The big idea illustrated by the film is that a built environment designed with the needs of the visually impaired in mind would be universally accessible for every single member of the community.
The Human Scale
The Human Scale juxtaposes the urban experiences of cities across the World to raise questions about the costs of modernity and to argue in favor of city planning that reclaims the public realm for social life. This new approach to planning is measured by walking distances, social interactions, and social inclusion, rather than vehicle speeds and parking spaces.