Abhijeet Chavan

Abhijeet Chavan is the co-founder and former co-editor-in-chief of Planetizen.

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Full Bio

Abhijeet Chavan is the co-founder and former co-editor-in-chief of Planetizen and the executive producer of Planetizen Courses. He was also the chief technology officer of Urban Insight, Inc., the technology consulting firm that operates Planetizen. Abhijeet Chavan has over 20 years of technology consulting experience working with government, higher education, legal services, and non-profit clients. Abhijeet is the founder of OpenAdvocate and the creator of DLAW web platform, WriteClearly plain-language authoring tool and ReadClearly legal web glossaries. Abhijeet was named to the Fastcase 50 list of global legal innovators in 2017.

Abhijeet previously coordinated geographic information (GIS), software development, and data projects for the Imaging Systems Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also served as the information technology coordinator for the East St. Louis Action Research Project, a cross-disciplinary initiative of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign working with residents and community groups in severely distressed urban areas.Abhijeet received his Master of Architecture (M. Arch) and Master of Landscape Architecture (M.L.A) degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Planning The Unthinkable: Three Factors Raise Stakes

In the aftermath of 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. has to face the realities of today. But three factors prevent us from planning for the unthinkable.

Consider Two Facts Before Rebuilding New Orleans

Klaus Jacob argues that we must face scientific facts before planning New Orleans' future.

Tragedy and Technology

A Los Angeles Times article titled "<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-fi-internet10sep10,1,1004073.story?ctrack=1&cset=true">Web Proves Its Capacity to Help in Time of Need</a>" documents the importance of the Web as a communications medium. <blockquote> It reunited families and connected them with shelter. It turned amateur photographers into chroniclers of history and ordinary people into pundits. It allowed television stations to keep broadcasting and newspapers to keep publishing. It relayed heartbreaking tales of loss and intimate moments of triumph... The Internet has played a larger and larger role in every major news event of the last 10 years...In the aftermath of Katrina, use of the Internet is more vital and varied than ever. </blockquote>

Three Planning Concepts For Rebuilding New Orleans

Patrick Doherty disagrees with New York Times columnist David Brooks' suggestions for rebuilding New Orleans. He argues that a redevelopment plan for New Orleans should adopt three urban planning concepts and lead the way for other U.S. metro areas.

Can A Rebuilt New Orleans Retain Its Character?

With federal aid available, pet redevelopment projects are now possible. Some worry that a rebuilt New Orleans will lose its distinct character.