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2.6. Urban Design and Planning (UDP)
Urban Design and Planning addresses the organization of the built environment at scales from block to region. It covers urban morphology, planning theories, housing, informal settlements, data-driven urban analytics, digital twins, landscape and open space design, and social equity in urban development. Students learn to analyze and design urban environments that are functional, resilient, equitable, and beautiful.
2.6.1. UDP/Urban Form and Morphology (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Covers the study of urban form: streets, blocks, plots, buildings, and open spaces as morphological units, and the analytical methods used to describe and classify urban tissues.
Topics:
Core
- Kevin Lynch's city image elements: paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks; their role in legibility and wayfinding; application to urban design analysis and intervention
- Street, block, and plot systems: typologies (grid, radial, organic, cul-de-sac), block dimensions and permeability, plot subdivision,
- Urban building typologies: single-family detached, row house (townhouse), courtyard building, slab, point tower, and linear block
- Morphological analysis methods: Conzenian (burgage cycle, fringe belts), space syntax (integration, connectivity, choice), and figure-ground diagrams for reading urban form
- Urban fabric layers: plot subdivision history, street network evolution, land use succession, and the persistence of plot boundaries over centuries as a design constraint
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Identify the key morphological elements of a city - streets, blocks, plots, buildings - and describe the relationships among them that define urban character [Familiarity]
- Apply morphological analysis tools (figure-ground, space syntax) to an urban sector, identifying its legibility, connectivity, and typological diversity [Usage]
- Evaluate the morphological coherence and permeability of a proposed urban design, comparing block sizes, street connectivity, [Assessment]
2.6.2. UDP/Historical Urban Planning Theories (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Covers the historical development of urban planning theories from early-20th-century utopian visions through the critique of post-war master planning: the Garden City, the Radiant City, Broadacre City, and the Team 10 and Jane Jacobs response.
Topics:
Core
- Classic urban theories: Howard's Garden City, Le Corbusier's Radiant City (Towers in the Park), Wright's Broadacre City, and their influence on 20th-century planning and zoning
- Post-WWII planning: the rise of the master plan, Team 10 critique of CIAM, Jane Jacobs' advocacy for mixed-use and short blocks,
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Describe the key historical urban planning theories and their influence on 20th-century city form, and explain the shift from master planning to strategic [Familiarity]
2.6.3. UDP/Contemporary Planning Methods and Theory (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Covers the planning methods used to implement urban visions (zoning, master vs. strategic planning, public participation), smart growth and new urbanism principles, contemporary urban theory, and the integration of civil engineering technical constraints into planning frameworks.
Topics:
Core
- Planning methods: zoning (Euclidean, form-based, performance-based), master planning vs. strategic planning, public participation (charrettes, community workshops
- Smart growth and new urbanism: principles (transit-oriented development, walkability, mixed-income housing, urban growth boundaries), Andrés Duany's transect,
- Contemporary urban theory: Lefebvre's production of space, Harvey's right to the city, Sennett's open city, and the role of informality, participation,
Non Core
- Integration of civil engineering technical constraints (structural, geotechnical, utility infrastructure, and transportation) into urban planning and architectural design frameworks; the collaborative role of civil engineers in multidisciplinary building and urban project teams
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Apply a planning method - such as form-based coding or scenario planning - to a specific urban site, producing land use or built form regulations that align with stated policy [Usage]
- Evaluate a current urban plan or zoning code against contemporary planning principles (walkability, mixed-use, transit orientation, social equity), identifying strengths [Assessment]
2.6.4. UDP/Urban Design at Multiple Scales (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Covers the practice of urban design across scales: regional structure, citywide network, neighborhood, block, street, and public space - and the design guidelines appropriate to each.
Topics:
Core
- Regional and city scale: transit corridors, green belts, growth boundaries, satellite towns, and the relationship between density
- Neighborhood scale: walkability (5-10 minute walking radius), mixed-use zoning, social infrastructure (schools, clinics, community centers), and the 20-minute neighborhood concept
- Block and street scale: block length for pedestrian permeability (80-120 m max), street section design (lane widths, sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, furniture zone),
- Public space design: squares, plazas, parks, pocket parks, and streets as public space; William Whyte's elements of successful public space (sittable space, sun, food
- Urban design guidelines: building setbacks, height limits, architectural character, facade articulation, signage, lighting,
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Describe the key design considerations at each urban scale - regional, neighborhood, block, street, and public space - [Familiarity]
- Develop a set of urban design guidelines for a specific neighborhood or street typology, integrating density, building height, block length, street section, [Usage]
- Evaluate an urban design project for its multi-scale coherence, assessing how well it integrates regional transit, neighborhood walkability, block permeability, street safety, [Assessment]
2.6.5. UDP/Housing and Residential Environments (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Covers the design and planning of housing at multiple scales: unit, building, block, and neighborhood; housing types, affordability, social mix, and the relationship between housing and urban form.
Topics:
Core
- Housing typologies: single-family detached, row house, courtyard building, walk-up apartment, point tower, slab block, double-loaded corridor,
- Affordable housing strategies: inclusionary zoning, density bonuses, cross-subsidization, public-private partnerships, community land trusts (CLTs), and the financial
- Housing quality and dweller control: orientation for sunlight and ventilation, unit deepth to window ratio, privacy thresholds (distance to opposite windows), acoustic separation
- Mixed-income and social mix housing: fostering social interaction, avoiding stigma of large public housing projects (Pruitt-Igoe lessons),
- Housing policy frameworks: Vienna's social housing model, Singapore's public housing, Chilean housing subsidies,
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Identify the principal housing typologies and their urban density contributions, and describe the design qualities that distinguish high-quality residential environments from poorly designed ones [Familiarity]
- Design a housing block at the neighborhood scale, specifying building typology mix, dwelling unit orientation and ventilation strategy, [Usage]
- Evaluate a housing project for quality of life, affordability, and urban integration, using indicators such as floor-to-ceiling height, access to light [Assessment]
2.6.6. UDP/Informal Settlements and Incremental Urbanization (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Covers the study of informal settlements (slums, favelas, kampongs) and incremental housing processes as legitimate forms of urban development, and the design and policy approaches for upgrading and regularization.
Topics:
Core
- The morphology of informal settlements: organic street networks, plot subdivision (loteo) patterns, self-built housing, multi-functionality of rooms,
- Slum upgrading strategies: in-situ upgrading (regularization of tenure, infrastructure provision, community facilities), relocation vs.
- Incremental housing: progressive development models (core housing with expandable shell, sites-and-services), self-construction support (technical assistance, microcredit
- Land tenure and regularization: squatter rights, adverse possession, collective title, and the impact of secure tenure on home improvement and investment
- The informal economy and urban space: street vending, home-based enterprises, market stalls, and the design of public space that accommodates informal economic activities without
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Describe the morphological and social characteristics of informal settlements and explain the differences between in-situ upgrading, relocation, and sites-and-services approaches [Familiarity]
- Design an incremental housing unit and expansion strategy for a low-income family, specifying the starter core, expandable structure, and the phasing of utilities and finishing [Usage]
- Evaluate an informal settlement upgrading proposal for its impact on land tenure security, infrastructure access, displacement risk, and community participation [Assessment]
2.6.7. UDP/Urban Data Science and GeoAI (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Covers the use of geospatial data, machine learning, and urban analytics to analyze and inform urban design and planning decisions: mobility patterns, land use classification, accessibility analysis, and predictive modeling.
Topics:
Core
- Urban data sources: census data, points of interest (POI), mobile phone location data, GPS traces, transit smart card data, social media check-ins, satellite imagery (Sentinel
- Spatial analysis methods: network analysis (shortest path, service area, connectivity), isochrones, density analysis (kernel density), spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I),
- Accessibility metrics: job accessibility by transit, walkability indices (WalkScore), bikeability, food deserts,
- Machine learning for urban analysis: land use classification from satellite imagery (CNN), clustering of urban morphologies, prediction of travel demand,
- Urban dashboards and decision support: City dashboards (NYC, London, Singapore), real-time mobility monitoring, scenario comparison,
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Describe the main sources of urban data and the spatial analysis methods used to derive insights about mobility, accessibility, land use, and urban form [Familiarity]
- Apply a spatial analysis workflow to assess pedestrian accessibility to public transit, generating isochrones and calculating population coverage [Usage]
- Evaluate the quality and limitations of an urban data set for a specific planning question (e.g., equitable access to parks), identifying biases (sampling, demographic gaps) [Assessment]
2.6.8. UDP/Smart Cities and Urban Digital Twins ↑ Back to top
Covers the emerging field of urban digital twins: real-time city models, IoT data integration, simulation of urban scenarios, and the use of digital twins for planning, operations, and citizen engagement.
Topics:
Non Core
- Definition of urban digital twin: a virtual replica of the city that updates in near real-time via IoT sensors, integrates multiple domain models (transport, energy, water
- Data standards for urban digital twins: CityGML (LOD0-LOD4), 3D Tiles, IFC for buildings, and the integration of BIM into city-scale models; semantic enrichment for urban analytics. See also: BIM for Infrastructure and Urban Modeling
- IoT sensor networks for cities: air quality sensors, traffic counters, parking occupancy, waste bin levels, noise monitors, and citizen-reported data via mobile apps
- Urban simulation use cases: scenario planning (zoning changes, pedestrianization, transit expansion), what-if analysis of climate adaptation strategies,
- Privacy and ethical challenges in urban digital twins: data ownership, consent for passive data collection (mobile phone location, cameras), algorithmic bias in urban models,
Learning Outcomes:
NonCore:
- Describe the components of an urban digital twin - real-time data, 3D city model, simulation engine - and explain how they differ from a conventional 3D city GIS model [Familiarity]
- Use a digital twin or urban simulation platform to test the impact of a proposed zoning change or infrastructure investment on traffic congestion, air quality [Usage]
- Evaluate the maturity and fitness-for-purpose of an urban digital twin application, assessing data resolution, update frequency, model validation, and the handling of uncertainty [Assessment]
2.6.9. UDP/Landscape and Open Space Design (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Covers the design of public open space: parks, plazas, greenways, waterfronts, and streets as landscape; the integration of ecological, social, and cultural functions in urban open space systems.
Topics:
Core
- Park types and their urban roles: pocket parks, neighborhood parks, district parks, regional parks, linear parks (greenways), waterfront parks, and national urban parks
- Green infrastructure in urban design: bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavements, urban forests, and green roofs
- Placemaking for public space: Project for Public Spaces criteria (sociability, uses/activities, access, comfort/image)
- Integration of landscape and urban form: view corridors, public space networks, park-to-park connections, and the role of open space in structuring urban density and walkability
- Equity in open space access: distributional equity (distance, size per capita), quality equity (facilities, safety, maintenance),
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Describe the typologies of urban open space and their appropriate spatial distribution, programming, and ecological functions [Familiarity]
- Design a public open space (plaza, park, or greenway) that integrates stormwater management, seating, shade, and circulation into a coherent spatial composition [Usage]
- Evaluate a public space design using placemaking criteria (access, comfort, activities, sociability) and identify modifications to improve its use frequency and user diversity [Assessment]
2.6.10. UDP/Social Equity and Inclusive Urbanism (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top
Covers the social dimensions of urban design and planning: spatial justice, segregation, displacement, participatory processes, and the design of cities that serve all residents equitably.
Topics:
Core
- Spatial justice frameworks: Fainstein's just city (democracy, equity, diversity), Soja's seeking spatial justice,
- Gentrification and displacement: stages of gentrification, direct and indirect displacement (exclusionary displacement), anti-displacement strategies (rent control
- Participatory planning and community engagement: Arnstein's ladder of participation (manipulation to citizen control), deliberative methods (planning cell, consensus conference
- Equitable transportation: transit deserts, fare equity, accessibility for persons with disabilities, safe routes for walking and cycling,
- Gender-inclusive urbanism: safety audits, lighting and sightlines for perceived safety, access to childcare facilities,
Learning Outcomes:
Core:
- Identify the main dimensions of spatial justice - distribution, procedure, recognition - and describe how urban planning decisions can produce or mitigate inequitable outcomes [Familiarity]
- Apply an equity assessment tool (e.g., equity scorecard, health impact assessment) to an urban development proposal, identifying which populations benefit [Usage]
- Evaluate a participatory planning process for authenticity, power-sharing, and representation, recommending changes to increase meaningful participation of marginalized [Assessment]