Urban planners design livable and attractive communities, considering factors such as environment, transportation, and psychology. They address issues such as noise and traffic, and may work on sustainable planning and urban renewal. Safety features and evacuation routes are also important considerations.
An urban planner combines skills in land planning, along with transportation planning, to design a community or region that is easy to live in and attractive to look at. Urban planners are usually trained as engineers or architects. They must also have an understanding of many other fields including the environment, transportation and psychology. Studies have shown that crime, happiness and many other factors are largely determined by the environment in which one lives. Effective urban planning creates a comfortable and safe environment that people enjoy.
Some urban planners design a community from the ground up, while others work in an already populated area to improve the design. When an urban planner works in a degraded area in an attempt to improve living conditions, this is called urban renewal. Many urban planners are becoming more involved in sustainable planning. The goal of sustainable planning is to create communities that use fewer natural resources and protect the area’s ecosystem.
Aesthetics is always a concern for urban planners. There are a variety of problems associated with large urban areas that planners try to minimize. They include things like the urban canyon effect. This is what happens in cities with many tall buildings. These buildings block sunlight from penetrating the concrete below, artificially shading the area at all times.
Another problem that must be addressed in urban areas is noise. Constant exposure to noise is physically and emotionally draining. Design issues such as adding trees and other types of green space can help absorb noise as well as reduce the number of cars on the street.
Reducing traffic is one of the main components of an urban planner’s job. Reduced traffic means reduced noise and air pollution. An efficient public transportation system is one of the key design features of a well-planned community.
An urban planner must also consider what types of emergencies may strike an area and how they will be handled. Clearly marked and well-designed evacuation routes out of the city are important, as are dikes, retaining walls or other man-made safety features. When designing these features, it is vital that the urban planner understands the number of people who may need to be evacuated or sheltered and plans accordingly.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
