Los Angeles County Planner Clement Lau describes how Instagram, the increasingly popular photo-sharing social media app., has become a valuable addition to his quiver of planning tools.
Dr. Clement Lau, a Los Angeles County Planner who has previously written about the use of smart phone apps to assist planners, writes about another app he has recently added to his planning tool quiver: Instagram.
"As just about everyone knows, Instagram is a free photo-sharing program and social network. Launched in October 2010, the service enables an individual to take a photo, apply a digital filter to it, and then share it with other users."
"You may be wondering, what is the connection between Instagram and city planning?" asks Lau. The application can "[capture] our imaginations with a vast array of images, helping us to visualize what is possible, and then doing what is necessary to bring forth positive changes to our communities."
"Photos are particularly effective as part of an image preference survey designed to elicit feedback on the kinds of development people hope to encourage or discourage," he notes. "Planning officials find survey results helpful in developing design standards that reflect community preferences. One may even think of Instagram as one big image preference survey given that it contains a large repository of photos, and allows users to like and comment on photos."
"Images are critical to city planning. We cannot plan and implement creative ideas to improve our communities without first seeing what has been done and considering what can be done."
FULL STORY: Images, Instagram, and City Planning
‘Instagrammed to Death’ or a Return to Pre-Pandemic Normal?
Familiar controversies might seem reassuring in 2022.
Friday Eye Candy: The Theatricality of the Subway
A new book of photography amplifies what was already there.
Keeping Bees Away from Honey? Corruption Cases Expose Flaws in L.A. City’s Land Entitlement Process
Three former Los Angeles public officials share their collective perspective on how best to reform the city of Los Angeles' corrupted land use approval process.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.
Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.
LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions