What is planning? Planning – also called urban planning or city and regional planning – is a dynamic profession that works to improve the welfare of people and their communities by creating more convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient and attractive places for present and future generations. Planning enables civic leaders, businesses and citizens to play a meaningful role in creating communities that enrich people's lives.
Good planning helps create communities that offer better choices for where and how people live and helps communities envision their future. It helps them find the right balance of new development and essential services, environmental protection and innovative change. Planners help create a broad vision for the community. They also research, design and develop programs; lead public processes; effect social change; perform technical analyses; manage; and educate.
Some planners focus on just some of these roles, such as transportation planning, but most will work at many kinds of planning throughout their careers. The basic element is the creation of a plan – planners develop a plan through analyzing data and identifying goals for the community or the project. Planners help the community and its various groups identify their goals and form a particular vision.