City and Regional Planning :: Planning Innovations Technology Lab

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Planning Innovations Technology Lab

Advances in technology are changing the way planners conduct geographic analysis and present complex ideas to the public. Keeping up with these changes requires the introduction of technology-based skill-sets into planning education. We believe that our students should be positioned to advance the technological capabilities of the agencies that they go to work for, by bringing in knowledge of the latest innovations in planning technology.

To achieve this goal, we have created the Planning Innovations Technology (PIT) lab. The PIT lab is not just a physical entity or collection of computers, but an element of a refreshed curriculum that incorporates technology instruction and experimentation into our core courses.

The primary purpose of the PIT lab is to provide City and Regional Planning students with knowledge of the latest innovations in planning technology, with a focus on enhancing geographic analysis and presentation/visualization skills. In addition, the PIT lab is designed to improve students’ learning environment by augmenting traditional lecture-based learning with experiential learning that is interactive and collaborative.

An example of some of the technology that is used in the lab and some student work can be seen in a PowerPoint presentation that can be downloaded here.

PIT Lab Software / Skill-Sets

SketchUp 8 (3D rendering/site design)
ArcMap 10 (GIS)
ArcPad 7 (mobile GIS)
Adobe Creative Suite CS2 (graphic design/image editing)
AutoCad 2011 (computer drafting/site plan design)
PASW Statistics 18 (statistical analysis)
Microsoft Office

PIT Lab Hardware / Infrastructure

13 Dell OptiPlex GX740 desktops (Dual Core 2.6 GHz / 4.0 GB RAM)
3 HP tc4400 Tablet PCs (2.0 GHz / 2.0 GB RAM)
6 Dell Axim X51v handheld PCs w/ GPS receiver
2 Trimble Juno ST handheld PCs w/ GPS receiver
HP Designjet 800 ps Plotter
Dell 3110cn color laser printer
Plasa monitor w/ SmartBoard overlay
SynchronEyes computer lab management system

Youth Neighborhood Mapping Initiative

A summer project hosted by the Graduate Program in City & Regional Planning in conjunction with the City of Memphis' Summer Youth Employment Program. Click here for more details.

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Last Updated: 12/4/11