Civil Engineering in City and Regional Planning

Abstract

City planning is an established activity, field of knowledge, and profession. Except for river basin development and specific functional programs, regional planning is presently limited as an organized endeavor. Civil engineers will continue their roles relating to the design and construction of certain physical facilities; but greater knowledge of the dynamics of urban-regional organisms and subsystem analysis will be necessary for effective participation as the scope of planning broadens and deepens. The current focus is on comprehensive planning which analyzes and projects all major elements in shaping the city or region in accordance with trends and objectives. This calls for improved techniques of synthesizing disparate interdependent variables, projecting into the future, formulating sound subjective judgments, and systems design. Together with other engineers and professions, the civil engineer is a potential candidate for directorial positions in comprehensive or master planning; these require graduate education in city or regional planning, or acquiring equivalent knowledge through university extension, self-education, or expanded civil engineering curricula.