Sustainable and vibrant communities of the future are a result of proper planning. Shaping our Future: Community Planning Basics for Happier, Healthier, and More Sustainable Cities offers students and engaged citizens an introduction to the field of community planning. It covers a broad range of foundational topics needed by students to become effective city and community planners.

Opening chapters provide an understanding of planning history, major actors, and theories. Tools and techniques of planning are presented subsequently along with chapters dedicated to specializations in planning such as housing and community development, transportation planning, land use planning, environmental planning, urban design, historic preservation, economic development, and disaster preparedness and mitigation. Planning ethics, public participation in the planning process, sustainable development, and the advent of big data in planning are also discussed, with a concluding chapter that showcases examples of planning overseas.

Throughout, introductions, key terms, and end-of-chapter questions provide students with critical context and opportunities to reinforce key learnings. Planning projects and exercises challenge students to apply what they learn and build practical knowledge for real-world situations.