Mapping the Knowledge Domain of Planning

Tom Sanchez and Nader Afzalan explore the age old question, "what is planning?" in their new report published earlier this week.

1 minute read

October 31, 2014, 7:00 AM PDT

By Maayan Dembo @DJ_Mayjahn


By analyzing self-reported research and teaching interests of faculty from Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) member schools, Tom Sanchez and Nader Afzalan attempted to define the practice of planning. In total, they mapped 1149 terms, with a total of 540 acting as links while the remaining 609 were considered "non-core or beyond the central cluster of planning topics."

The most common terms were planning (rank 1) and urban (rank 2). Also on the top 20 in degree rank were subjects such as policy (rank 4), environmental (rank 7), sustainable (rank 17), and international (rank 20). Another metric determined by Sanchez and Afzalan was "betweenness," which "indicates bridges or connections among nodes on the network." In the betweenness rankings, sustainable and international did not show up, but rather GIS (rank 18) and environments (rank 15).

According to the authors, "the results of this analysis suggest that the research interests of urban planning faculty are represented by a dense and cohesive core." The findings of research and teaching interests are in general agreement with APA's list of specialty planning areas. However, further research is necessary to determine whether urban planning practitioners see these topics as relevant to their professional needs.

Sunday, October 26, 2014 in Tom Sanchez

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.