This course (1) provides a basic intro to census and economic data collection, processing, and analysis; (2) surveys forecasting and modeling techniques in planning; (3) demonstrates the uses of real-time urban data and analytics; and (4) provides a socio-economic-political context for the smart cities movement, focusing on data ethics and governance.

CYPLAN 101 introduces students to the systematic analysis of urban data. This relies on critical thinking with regard to economic, social, and environmental outcomes, from air pollution to housing density. Accordingly, this course will teach students approaches to collecting, analyzing, modeling, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data used to inform urban planning and policymaking. Students will also be introduced to theory and critical discourses on topics such as big data, open data, privacy, and modern-municipal governance. Students will be expected to engage with the technical, theoretical, and ethical implications associated with these subjects in both lecture and laboratory sections. The course will introduce students to Excel and programming in R, an open-source software, as well as other tools and techniques for urban data analysis.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.