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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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

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aerial view of new york skyline
GIS Fundamentals: An Introduction
Mike Ernst
56 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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data layers in QGIS for urban design course
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
Emily Talen
59 Mins
  • AIA CES
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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Sloan Campi Introduction to ARCGIS part 2 image of areial view of city heat map with saturated colors blue, green, yellow, purple, and red
Introduction to GIS, Part 2
Sloan Campi
52 Mins
  • CIP
  • AICP CM

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gis map of earth
GIS Fundamentals: Projections and Map Design
Mike Ernst
107 Mins
  • AICP CM
  • CNU-A
  • SACPLAN CPD

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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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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

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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Podcasting for Planners Sign Up

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Podcasting for Planners

Instructor: Ma'ayan Dembo

Audio editing is a great way to tell a story, share information, create a digital record of events, or improve community outreach. In this course, learn the basics of podcasting and audio editing.

4.31
58 Mins
CommunityViz Introduction Sign Up

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CommunityViz Introduction

Instructor: Doug Walker

In this course you will learn practical applications for CommunityViz, one of the world's premiere GeoDesign and planning scenario tools. Planners, resource managers, local and regional governments, and others use CommunityViz to help them make decisions about development, land use, transportation, conservation and more. 

4.21
72 Mins

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Software