PLAN Course Descriptions

Planning (2009-2010)

Introduction to planning in its historical and contemporary contexts. Discussion of city types and origins. Consideration of local, national, and international design and management of environment and human habitations. Introduction to selected main themes in planning and architecture.

This is a practical introduction to written and oral presentations and communications as they are used specifically in the environmental professions. Report writing, correspondence and interaction with the news media are among the forms of communication considered. Students complete written and oral assignments with considerable critical comment provided both on content and on technical aspects such as style and grammar.

Important planning and financial instruments, administrative processes and planning practice are reviewed. Planning and Municipal Acts, official plans, plan amendments, zoning bylaws, site plans, easements, consents, variances, assessments, mill rates, capital works, and debentures. Municipal budgets and accounting concepts, and financing are studied.

Practical project-based skill development involving sketching, digital and film photography, and 2 dimensional computer graphics used by planners to conceive, evaluate and communicate design ideas.

A problem-based exploration of urban and regional design in the physical-natural, built, social-cultural environment. Individual and group projects, studio consultation and critiques explore traditional and contemporary approaches using sketches, constructed and computer models, and verbal analysis.

This course looks at social planning as a way of tackling urban social problems. Will examine the different types of social planning and the relationship between physical and social planning.

This course explores the relationship between planning instruments and the urban land use market. It relates urban outcomes to interactions between market processes and planning interventions. It is in this light that it interprets changing urban land use and transportation patterns since the late 1940s, as well as contemporary urban issues. These issues are chosen so as to underscore differences in the circumstances confronting different zones of urbanization (core, inner city, inner suburb and outer suburb).

Geographic information systems (GIS) are used as an organizing framework for discussion of data management in planning and geography. Topics include: data sources; methods of collection; database management; principles of geographic information systems; applications of geographic information systems in urban and regional analysis, monitoring and evaluation.

An introduction to the theoretical principles that influence planning practice. The course will examine selected contributions to planning theory and practice. Related issues of professional practice and ethics will be considered.

A design studio that focuses on design planning for individual sites and small scale developments. Projects integrate critical features: terrain, natural and cultural context, microclimate, infrastructure, and adjacent land uses. Studio seminars, consultation and critiques explore theory and practice in observation, awareness, comprehension, and idea development.

A design studio on planning design at the community scale that is sensitive to the natural, built, and cultural context. Field study projects of area development or redevelopment projects are used to examine traditional and contemporary theory and practice. Studio seminars, presentations and critiques explore the definition, management and mapping of physical structures, visual and environmental resources. Included is consideration of the special problems of planning development within a scenic landscape.

Practical application and critical appraisal of regional analysis techniques used by planners, economic developers and consultants. Problem based approaches to understanding the strength and leverage of business and industrial sectors, projection and forecasting, employment and demographic trends, investment decision-making and cost benefit analysis.

This course examines concepts and issues related to social planning for neighbourhood and community environments. It considers planning for particular target populations in the contexts of suburbanization and core area revitalization. It will review models of neighbourhood change and community development and will address ways to involve community members in the planning process.

Consideration of how selected, key ecological concepts shape the options for policy planning and managing landscapes. Development of critical skills for assessing, framing and conveying information essential to planning, managing and developing policy for landscape stewardship.

Consideration of the constraints and guidelines that an application of the principles of ecology place on the planning and management of resources within urban spaces and the implications for urban design. The theory and history of this subject will be discussed together with urban ecomanagement, the management of waste, urban open space and parks, rehabilitated sites, and environmentally sensitive areas.

An examination of the major factors giving rise to distinctive styles of urban spatial organization. Focus moves from city-wide scale to subareas/sectors - inner city, housing, retailing, etc. Emphasis on understanding and planning for the dynamics of complex environments. Applied issues or problems are dealt with throughout the course.

This course develops the capacity of students to apply research methods to planning-related issues. Examination of a variety of alternative approaches to designing and conducting research. Students learn how to become informed consumers and producers of planning-related research.

The theory and application of multivariate statistics, with particular emphasis upon the use of the computer.

Advanced quantitative analysis in a spatial context. A selection of techniques from sampling, geostatistics, point pattern analysis and cluster detection, spatial classification, and spatial data mining.

The relationship of economic planning to regional planning. Concepts of economic development and models of regional development planning. Case studies and examples are drawn from federal regional development efforts in Canada and/or from Third World nations. Workshops focus on regional planning and development at both a conceptual and empirical level.

This course is organized into modules, each of which addresses a common type of GIS analysis. Topics covered include digital terrain models, spatial analysis, cell-based modelling and network analysis. In addition, the course explores automation procedures using models and scripts.

This course focuses on design and development of a GIS database. It addresses theoretical issues regarding data models used in GIS and data modeling techniques used in designing spatial databases. It considers the processing required to input data from a variety of sources and clean and edit a multi-theme database and introduces students to creation and use of internet map services.

The course focuses on contemporary planning problems before the Ontario Municipal Board. Students analyze and synthesize the various planning perspectives involved in real cases. Students explore the issues of presenting a case, or appearing as a witness before the Board through observation and participation in a moot OMB hearing presided over by a member of the OMB.

Professional practice responsibility and ethics, administrative methods and organization are considered in the context of the nature of organizations, politics and economics that provide opportunities and limitations. Perspectives are drawn from organizational theory, public administration, land economics, political and planning theory. Public sector decision making and policy development are discussed.

An exploration of contemporary and traditional theories of urban design and its applications under a variety of situations. This involves study of approaches to urban design that lead to improved urban quality of life through integrating living and working, economy, culture and heritage, and addresses issues of transportation, energy conservation, and environmental sustainability. International viewpoints and case studies are considered. May involve study field trips to major urban centres.

An intensive urban design studio that addresses both new and redevelopment planning design at a community and higher scale. A problem-based exploration involving studio seminars, consultation and critiques to integrate design elements that provide economically and socially viable communities with a sense of place and community, and improved urban quality.

The role of cultural heritage in the community context is examined. Varying forms of heritage preservation, its function and organization are covered.

The first part consists of an overview of housing in Canada considering federal, provincial and municipal policy as well as the housing industry. In the second part, special topics such as homelessness, affordability, environment and other issues are discussed.

A seminar course on the environmental sources and causes of disease and illness, the concepts of health, e.g. medical, scientific, economic, political, etc., the health services and facilities and related technologies and the role and responsibilities of (urban and regional) planners in the creation of a more healthful environment.

An advanced examination of planners in their environment using a variety of theories including those related to systems, organization, social change and planning. Social concepts that will enhance a planner's effectiveness are examined within a framework of social structures and case studies.

This course will explore, through an examination of various procedures and techniques, the development of strategies and policies which assist in planning for a comprehensive and integrative approach to waste management. The focus is on the applications of contemporary waste management concepts and principles.

Selected analysis of processes, problems and planning issues associated with the internal growth and spatial reorganization of Canadian metropolitan areas. Three or four topics are chosen for detailed investigation. These will vary from year to year.

This course considers policy analysis as a step-by-step process of prescriptive activities used to aid decision-making. For heuristic purposes, a simplified model of the policy process is presented so that basic analytical methods for each step in the process can be explored. The course highlights quick, yet theoretically defensible, methods useful for smaller-scale analyses or for taking a preliminary approach to larger-scale analyses. The instructor will present case materials from environmental planning to illustrate the analytical methods.

Urban stormwater runoff affects the water quality, water quantity, habitat and biological resources, public health and aesthetic appearance of urban waterways. This course reviews the physical and chemical processes, environmental assessment techniques and best management practices related to stormwater management in the urban systems.

An analysis of the legal basis for planning in Ontario and the practice of planning law as it affects planners, municipalities, local councils, property owners and residents. The roles of planning boards, municipal councils, the Ontario Municipal Board, the Ministry of Housing, provincial Cabinet and the Niagara Escarpment Commission in the planning process will be discussed.

These courses allow for additions to the program on a short-term basis, and for the development of future permanent courses.

This course critically explores the evolution of freight planning and policy in the urban and regional realms from the early importance of ports to modern global logistics. Emphasis is placed on understanding 1) the theory, fundamental characteristics, and methods of analyzing freight systems, and 2) planning/policy perspectives on freight transportation.

The historical evolution of transit in cities; the technological innovations which made transit possible; and transit mode definitions. Models of transit vehicle motion are presented; transit travel times under different travel regimes are derived. Transit scheduling methods are shown. System operational characteristics are defined and quantitative measures of effectiveness are introduced. Transit network planning objectives are identified; actual geometries are qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Transit ownership structures and economics are discussed; contemporary ITS applications are presented. Methods for selecting appropriate transit modes are covered. [Offered: W]

Familiarization with the contribution of U.K. theory and practice to Canadian planning. Study of development of U.K. planning from mid-eighteenth century to present with reference to new town and urban redevelopment. For additional information on duration, itinerary and travel costs, contact the Planning UG Officer.

Students work in small groups to develop GIS applications addressing selected planning, environmental management or research problems. Emphasis is on conceptual design of the selected application and implementation of a prototype solution using internet map services, GIS macro languages or other programming tools. [Formerly: GEOG/PLAN 457]

An examination of planning issues related to the design, economics and financing of private land and building construction projects including residential high-rise condominium, low-rise residential subdivision, infill, intensification and brownfield redevelopment and industrial/commercial land development. The course focuses on developer decision-making, analysis of risk, sources of financing, planning, environmental and engineering aspects of land development.

The influence of transportation, communications, and water and sewage systems on the form, function and development of cities and regions; the application of this knowledge in urban and regional planning.

Special planning projects and problems chosen in consultation with instructor.

Built around a set of key issues in the management of Geographic Information Systems. Focuses on middle management concerns and covers topics including GIS needs assessment, benchmarking, the law and spatial data, spatial data warehousing, multi-user GIS modelling and GIS application development. Uses of GIS in both public and private sector organizations are covered. [Formerly: GEOG/PLAN 555]

Practical experience in carrying out a research proposal under the direction of a faculty member. The results of this research will be presented in the form of an essay that meets both professional and academic standards.