Visualization Tools

A map showing a heat map that represents commute times in an urban area.

Smart Growth Loves Heatmaps

Smart growth can provide many important benefits that are easy to see using informative and beautiful heatmaps—our complex world as viewed by all-knowing gods.

September 20, 2021 - Todd Litman

Demographics map

Three Ways to Make GIS as Powerful as Possible

These days, cities are expected to make the most of open data and spatial visualization technologies.

June 25, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Historic Hong Kong

Historic Hong Kong: Visualizing a Changed City

Created with input from historian Mark Footer, this tool overlays street views of modern Hong Kong with historical photos from the colonial era through the 20th century.

December 11, 2015 - HotelClub

'ManyCities' Uses Mobile Phone Data to Visualize Human Activity

A new online visualization tool makes it easier to read and understand data about mobile phone usage in four cities around the world, including Los Angeles and New York.

September 10, 2015 - MIT Technology Review

Homeless Camp

Mapping America's Homeless Populations

The Committee to End Homelessness in King County produced a helpful visualization tool that compares the size of homeless populations around the country as well as the type of housing support they receive.

May 29, 2014 - Fast Co.Exist

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.