Geographic Information System (GIS) software combines a database with mapping tools to visualize place-based information and analyze spatial data. Planners use GIS to understand demographic data, analyze sites for suitability, model transportation outcomes, assess environmental impacts, and more. GIS plays an important role in land use planning, demographic analysis, and transportation planning. Whether you're a beginner or just want to brush up your skills, GIS courses can take your mapping skills to the next level.

GIS Courses

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Imported blocks from bridgeport in Sketchup for urban design course
Urban Design for Planners 2: Getting Started with QGIS and SketchUp
Emily Talen
46 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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Top down view of Washington D.C.
ArcGIS Pro Fundamentals and Beginner Analysis
Sloan Campi
83 Mins
  • CIP
  • AICP CM

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night cityscape of chicago
GIS Fundamentals: Thematic Maps
Mike Ernst
55 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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QGIS model of pedestrian shed for urban design course
Urban Design for Planners 3: Neighborhoods and Centers
Emily Talen
59 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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An overhead view of a suburban neighborhood.
Data Management in ArcGIS Pro
Sloan Campi
47 Mins

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data shown in gis map
GIS Fundamentals: Importing, Selecting, and Managing Data
Mike Ernst
55 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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sketchup model of housing mix for urban planning course
Urban Design for Planners 4: Mix and Proximity
Emily Talen
66 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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mapping created in arcgis online
GIS Fundamentals: Geocoding, Geoprocessing, and Online Sharing
Mike Ernst
54 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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sketchup model of cityblocks for urban planning course
Urban Design for Planners 5: Density
Emily Talen
64 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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land use design created in geodesign community viz
GeoDesign with CommunityViz: Land Use Designer
Chuck Donley
86 Mins
  • SACPLAN CPD

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streetscape design created in sketchup for urban planning course
Urban Design for Planners 6: Streetscape Design
Emily Talen
59 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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screenshot of map created with communityviz
GeoDesign Using CommunityViz: Buildout and Visualization
Chuck Donley
130 Mins
  • SACPLAN CPD

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3d model created in cityengine for urban planning course
CityEngine for Planners 3: Integration and GIS
Elliot Hartley
70 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

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3-d street created with planning software
Urban Design for Planners 8: Parking and Traffic
Emily Talen
90 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • LA CES

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map showing demographics using geoda software
Measuring Neighborhood Segregation and Diversity
Emily Talen
56 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A

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map showing walkability created in arcmap
GIS Walkability Modeling
Steph A. Nelson
46 Mins
  • SACPLAN CPD

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map image created in carto db
CartoDB for Planners
Mike Ernst
62 Mins
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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city with connection points
Location Optimization
Kevin Credit
70 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

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buildings created with communityviz
CommunityViz Introduction
Doug Walker
72 Mins

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color coded map of Los Angeles using mapbox
Introduction to WebGIS
Yoh Kawano
52 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

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a map comparison
Solving Coverage and Location-Allocation Problems
Kevin Credit
81 Mins
  • CIP
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

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colorful map created in arcgis and google earth
Geoanalysis with ArcGIS and Google Earth
Jessica White
85 Mins
  • SACPLAN CPD

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screenshot of transit map for urban planning course
Building a Transit Map Web App
Yoh Kawano
84 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • SACPLAN CPD

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City Points Map
Introduction to GIS, Part 1
Sloan Campi
45 Mins
  • CIP
  • AICP CM

Top GIS Instructors

Emily Talen

Emily Talen is Professor of Urbanism at the University of Chicago. Her research is devoted to...

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Sloan Campi

Sloan is an innovative and accomplished urban planner, environmental designer, and educator with over a decade...

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Mike Ernst

Mike Ernst is an urban planner and designer whose work has focused on participatory planning, community...

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Kevin Credit

Kevin is the Assistant Director for Urban Informatics at the Center for Spatial Data Science at...

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Yoh Kawano

Yoh Kawano works at the UCLA GIS and Visualization Sandbox as a member of the Research...

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Chuck Donley

Mr. Donley is an urban and regional planner who specializes in creating CommunityViz applications. He brings...

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Elliot Hartley

Elliot Hartley is an internationally recognised geodesign and Esri CityEngine expert.

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Steph A. Nelson

Steph A. Nelson has utilized GIS in a variety of settings including working as a GIS...

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Jessica White

Jessica White is a GIS Analyst and cartographer who is passionate about the possibilities of GIS...

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Garlynn Woodsong

Garlynn Woodsong is a geographer and urban planner with more than 13 years of experience in...

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Doug Walker

Doug Walker, is the President and Principal of CommunityViz's parent company, Placeways, LLC.

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William Riggs

William (Billy) Riggs, Ph.D., AICP, LEED AP is a nationally recognized professor, consultant, and strategist.

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All GIS Courses

21st Century Storytelling: Video for Planners Sign Up

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21st Century Storytelling: Video for Planners

Instructor: Andy Boenau

This course will give you motivation to create video content, and give you practical, affordable tips to be heard among the online noise.

4.34
46 Mins
AICP CM
SACPLAN CPD
Building a Transit Map Web App Sign Up

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Building a Transit Map Web App

Instructor: Yoh Kawano

This course examines the entire process of building an interactive, web-based mapping application.

4.37
84 Mins
AICP CM
SACPLAN CPD
Introductory Population Analysis with Excel Sign Up

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Introductory Population Analysis with Excel

Instructor: William Riggs

Whether you're new to population analysis or just need a refresher, this course offers a comprehensive overview of the steps necessary to conduct analysis and develop projections using publicly available data. The course reviews Census data and builds skills, such as population projection, cohort survival, and concentration calculations that are essential for every professional in the planning and design community.

4.09
50 Mins
SACPLAN CPD

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