What If Planners Had a Tool for Predicting Outcomes?

Or, put another way, what if planners could make unintended consequences a relic of the past?

1 minute read

March 15, 2016, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Jen Kinney reports on the work of Simi Hoque in generation a mathematical tool for predicting the outcomes of planning and civil engineering decisions. According to Kinney, Hoque, an assistant professor in the building and construction technology program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, wants to give planners a new tool "that could help predict outcomes by anticipating how changes in one urban system would affect the others."

The tool is currently called the Integrated Urban Metabolism Analytical Tool, or IUMAT. Kinney reports that the National Science Foundation in February awarded a five-year, $500,000 CAREER award to enable Hoque and team to further develop the IUMAT. The article includes more details of the potential applications 

Tuesday, March 8, 2016 in Next City

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

6 seconds ago - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

1 hour ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

4 hours ago - UNM News