Today, an impressive range of software tools is available for urban development and town planning professionals, offering exciting opportunities to enhance our work.

However, many budding town planners may only partially explore these tools during their university education.

At the same time, the government's push for digital planning and desire for technical abilities make people with technical skills, particularly in software like GIS, increasingly appealing to built environment firms. Embracing these tools can significantly elevate our capabilities and open doors to more dynamic, data-driven planning solutions.

What urban planning software skills are consultancies hiring for in 2024?

UK-specific publications about future skills recognise that modern town planners benefit from specialised know-how regarding software and tools. In the UK, the RTPI, the main body for Town Planners, has started to focus on the need for more digital skills training (source).

Three areas are popular:

Analytical and critical thinking skills: As planning becomes more data-driven and dependent on a more significant number of inputs, planners will need “analytical skills to review, interpret and make sense of it” (source)
GIS and Mapping Skills: Steve Hesmondhalgh, a well-known planner, said, “Proficiency in GIS enables planners to make data-driven decisions, improve land-use planning, and enhance communication with stakeholders.”
Community consultation and digital tools: Community consultation and engagement were among the initial digital tool adoption and website development areas. Skills in online community consultation are increasingly top of the agenda.

What town planning and urban design software is popular amongst town planners?

We looked at popular discussions by town planners and urban designers on Reddit, a popular online discussion forum, to digest software mentioned that will be popular in urban planning. Many country-specific tools and platforms are in development.

Here, we focus on the ones that are primarily in use in the UK and fairly well known.

GIS and Mapping Tools

This comprises a range of tools for handling geospatial data, such as site boundaries, constraints layers, and others—mainly to generate maps and run spatial analysis.

ArcGIS: A widely used platform by ESRI, a GIS software company with decades of history providing spatial software tools.
QGIS: Widely used free and open-source spatial analysis and mapping software works on Mac and Windows desktop computers.
Google Earth Pro: For quick aerial 3D views and fundamental site analysis. Google Earth Pro provides 3D views of critical areas on the planet. It works on the web or desktop.

Community Engagement Tools

Online platforms that supplement standard websites and face-to-face meetings to support better community consultations.

PlaceChangers place analytics & interactive consultation tool: This UK-leading platform is especially great for masterplan-scale projects. Its rich interactivity and visual approach enable online community consultations with 3D models and maps.
CommonPlace: A more heavy-headed platform for large projects with less interactivity or visual capabilities.
Give my view: Platform acquired by LandTech, focusing on a questionnaire with behavioral incentives.

Land Research Tools

A range of tools to vet a more significant number of sites for suitability even before determining which projects to take on or develop further:

LandTech: Probably the longest-running software platform for land research in the UK.
Nimbus Maps: Similar to LandTech, with a focus on property search and review
LandStack: Similar to LandTech, with a focus on property search and review

3D Design and Visualisation Tools

SketchUp: This program can be used to 3D model more straightforward architectural projects and basic tasks related to urban design.
Blender with architecture extensions: Blender is a free and open source game engine tool, but it can be very useful to open models and make basic edits.
Rhino: Often used for more complex urban designs, Rhino tries to establish itself as a non-traditional modelling tool before moving to more complex BIM solutions, like Revit.

Illustrations

Adobe Illustrator: Adobe Illustrator is a powerful tool for urban planners, enabling the creation of detailed vector graphics, including maps, site layouts, and visually compelling presentations.
SketchBook is a versatile digital drawing tool for urban planners, ideal for quick concept sketches, hand-drawn site plans, and creative design ideas.

Data Analysis and Reporting Tools

Excel/Google Sheets: Common for data management and calculations, Excel or Google Sheets and its ability to cleanse and visualise structured data are still some of the critical tools to know for efficient reporting.
R/Python: For more advanced statistical analysis and automation, scripting languages like R/Phyton and its wide range of extensive packages can enable new realms of application, such as in Machine Learning or language processing.

What are the pros and cons of town planning and urban design software?

Town planners and urban designers are traditionally familiar with tools for site appraisal, concept development, and detailed technical design. Often, a large part of the work is report writing, followed by some manual analysis, mapping, and visualisation of conditions on the ground.

However, non-traditional tools or online platforms for specific tasks, such as community consultation, site research, or option evaluation, still need to be introduced. That means it is not always clear to planners if the time spent learning a new tool is worth the outcomes. In a highly specialised industry, chances are that it’s also easy enough to partner with another company that can provide the necessary skills on a project basis.

Looking at the discussions by urban planners on Reddit, the most common reasons why to learn or master town planning and urban design software are mentioned as follows:

Pros

Efficiency: Basic competence in Tools like GIS, SketchUp, and CAD speed up project design, mapping, and reporting.
Data-Driven Decisions: Tools like PlaceChangers Place analytics help planners make informed, evidence-based decisions.
Visualisation: 3D tools like SketchUp and PlaceChangers Engagement Tool help visualise designs for stakeholders, making the planning process more transparent.
Collaboration: Cloud-based tools allow teams to work simultaneously on projects, improving collaboration.

Cons

Town planners also mentioned many concerns and considerations when learning new town planning and urban design software tools:

Steep Learning Curves: Many planners report that tools like GIS and complex design software (e.g., Rhino) require significant training.
Cost: Some software, particularly in the GIS and 3D design space, can be prohibitively expensive for smaller firms or municipalities.
Limited Customisation: Off-the-shelf tools may not always meet specific project needs, especially for smaller or rural municipalities.

What can I do today to learn town planning and urban design software skills?

There’s no denying that a basic set of skills and technical knowledge is increasingly important for planners, especially in data processing, spatial data handling, and data on Building Information Models.

With the wide range of town planning and urban design tools available and the wide range of specialisation needs of town planners, there will be many different opportunities and avenues for town planners to learn skills relevant to their personal interests and professional needs.

While we cannot outline a single path based on industry trends regarding digitisation, we advise anybody to know the general trends towards adopting spatial data and building information modelling systems.

Specifically for town planners, we can imagine different paths.

GIS and Spatial Data Analysis Specialisms

We advise focusing on spatial and analytics skills for those interested in planning policy development, management of planning applications, and other related fields.

Essential Skills to Develop:

GIS Software Proficiency: Master free tools like QGIS for spatial analysis, mapping, and overlaying different data layers (e.g., land use, transportation networks, zoning).
Spatial Analytics: Develop expertise in geo statistics and spatial data analytics (e.g., analysing population density, environmental impact, or traffic patterns).
Map Creation and Visualisation: Learn cartographic design principles to create clear, informative maps and visuals for reports and stakeholder presentations.

Learning Strategies:

Start with Free Resources: Take advantage of free training or QGIS online courses.
Get Hands-On with Data: Work on real-world datasets (e.g., open data portals) and create small projects like mapping urban growth or accessibility analysis.
Join GIS Communities: Engage in GIS communities (e.g., Reddit and LinkedIn groups) to learn about current trends, tools, and case studies.

Urban design making and creative specialism

This route could better suit those who move from town planning into urban design and master planning, with a keen interest in projects' creative and design aspects but perhaps without an architecture degree.

Essential Skills to Develop:

Urban Design Software Proficiency:
- Learn SketchUp or Rhino for 3D modelling and visualisation. These tools are widely used for conceptualising and presenting master plans and urban designs.
- Gain proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) to create design presentations, renderings, and layouts.
Site Planning and Analysis:
- Develop skills in site analysis (e.g., topography, land use, environmental impact) using GIS tools like ArcGIS or QGIS to integrate spatial data with design work. This combines your planning background with design projects.
- Master AutoCAD or Vectorworks for producing technical drawings, layout plans, and infrastructure designs in urban spaces.
Masterplanning Concepts:
- Understand the principles of place-making, sustainability, and landscape design central to master planning. Study urban morphology, street design, and public space creation.
Creative Design Communication:
- Sharpen visual storytelling skills through hand sketches, digital renderings, and detailed masterplans that communicate the vision to stakeholders, clients, and the public.
- Learn how to create design guidelines that align with local planning regulations and sustainability goals.

Learning Strategies:

Enrol in Urban Design Courses: You can take online courses in urban design or master planning from platforms like Coursera, edX, or specialised design institutions. Many offer non-degree programs tailored to professionals transitioning into urban design.
Develop a Portfolio: Create a portfolio showcasing small design projects or conceptual masterplans. Include before-and-after scenarios, sketches, and 3D renderings highlighting your creative and planning abilities.
Attend Workshops and Design Charrettes: Participate in urban design workshops (see Free Urban Design Essentials Course), charrettes, or design competitions. These immersive experiences will help you collaborate with architects, landscape designers, and planners while enhancing your design skills.
Collaborate with Urban Designers and Architects: Work closely with urban designers or architects on projects to learn how to integrate design thinking with planning principles. Engage in multidisciplinary teams where your planning knowledge complements creative design work.

Conclusions

As we can see, the landscape of town planning and urban design software is exciting and lively. Town planners will find tools enabling critical tasks, such as site analysis, concept development, community consultation, and more.

While there is a wide range of options, it’s also clear that the total value of more recent web-based town planning and urban design tools and platforms has yet to be more fully established, especially in a field that is used to core software for GIS and BIM and where most work is highly specialised.