Making Sense of Cities: The Role of Maps in the Past, Present, and Future of Urban Planning

Cities are by definition complex and dynamic physical and social systems. Professionals charged with planning for and building our constantly-changing cities, including urban planners and designers, depend upon a wide range of maps and spatial technologies to make decisions. Planning is essentially a visual and spatial discipline where ideas, plans, arguments and empirical analyses are all expressed through paper and digital maps , including GIS (geographic information systems) . This chapter critically explores the way professional and academic planners who work in transportation, community and economic development , international development , environmental conservation , real estate and urban use maps at all scales . Maps will continue to be critical in planners’ efforts to understand the spatial form of cities and how residents conceive of places , make and analyze plans, model social and environmental impacts, engage citizens and hold government officials accountable. The interdisciplinary fields of public health , energy and sustainability and civic engagement are examined as opportunities for future collaboration.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA Amy Hillier

1. Amy Hillier