The planning profession is diverse. Planning draws from a wide variety of disciplines and fields of study including geography, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, ecology, history, sociology, business, politics and policy studies.
Traditionally those working in the profession have been called urban planners or regional and town planners. However, the increasing emphasis placed on sustainable development has stimulated the emergence of a new term - environmental planning. Environmental planning denotes a balanced approach to urban, regional and rural planning issues that takes into account social, cultural, political, economic and physical and ecological issues.
As a result of the diverse fields that are drawn upon in planning, planning is looked upon as a "generalist" profession. It is the task of the planner to bring together and present to decision-makers and the community a broad range of technical and scientific information in a format that is easy to understand. Planning is therefore a profession that requires good communication and people skills as well as the ability to work through complex multidisciplinary environmental problems. It cannot be separated from politics and most planners acknowledge they work in a political environment. That is what makes it such a rewarding and challenging profession!
Specialisations that may be pursued in planning include:
· Urban design
· Landscape design and management
· Impact assessment
· Community planning
· Cultural planning
· Heritage protection and management
· Transport planning
· Development planning
· Urban, regional and rural development
· Management of agricultural and rural areas
· Park planning and design
· Nature conservation and management
· Environmental management
· Tourism planning
· Local economic development
· Analysis and design of planning processes and procedures.
If you would like further information and definitions of planning go to "definitions of planning page".
