MPlan Planning with Professional Placement

Evidence-based policy-making is central to contemporary spatial and policy analysis. The consolidation of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) as widely used tools for data management and advanced analysis via intensive use of data and methods to process and map this data have changed the focus of traditional spatial analysis towards a fully fledge use of digital tools.

Spatial and policy analysis knowledge and methods, supported by digital tools, is a central set of knowledge and skills for professionals in urban planning and policy related areas.

Acknowledging the ongoing significant shift in the UK and worldwide urban agendas towards a comprehensive digital approach to planning and policy design and monitoring, the course addresses basic and complex issues and delivers an essential toolkit for graduates to be effective professionals in providing robust, intelligible and accessible evidence for all domains of spatial and policy analysis.

This module aims to give students a solid grounding in understanding various spatial analysis techniques and methods commonly used to understand spatial trends and patterns of development in an applied context.

You will learn the technical and critical analytical skills to develop a robust evidence-base to support critical spatial thinking and policy-development.

You will learn various diagnostic approaches that will enable you to analyse and interpret the relationships between different factors and activities that underpin spatial development trends.

You will learn various methodologies involved in carrying out policy monitoring and evaluation to assess the outputs and outcomes of policy action.

You will develop skills in managing on-line databases and using technical software to analyse and present results for policy audiences.

Lectures and computer workshops

Introducing students to the range of techniques and methods used to analyse, monitor and evaluate spatial policy issues and actions;
Providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and apply these techniques and methods in theory and practice;

Have a critical opinion about the use of advanced quantitative tools in urban planning and policy analysis;
Understand the potential and limitations of using quantitative methods in urban planning and policy analysis;
Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of spatial data analysis and its use in supporting spatial policy issues and actions

Data collection and management skills
Use a range of IT resources to obtain, analyse and present information 
Use of spreadsheets and GIS to present information in a professional manner
Competency in reporting data analyses to support policy and planning processes 

Use of different spatial analyses methods to develop evidence-based analysis to support policy design and monitoring in the context of both PPEM course units and the professional practice 

Written feedback will be provided within 15 working days of each submission.

Carley, M. (1980) Rational Techniques in Policy Analysis: Heinemann Educational Books, London

Davies, H. (1995) Demographic Projection Techniques for Regions and Small Areas: A Primer UBC Press, Vancouver.

Field, B. and MacGregor, B. (1987) Forecasting Techniques for Urban and Regional Planning, Hutchinson, London.

Hambleton, R. and Thomas, H. (1995) Urban Policy Evaluation: Challenge and Change, Chapman, London.

Innes, J. E. (1990) Knowledge and Public Policy: the Search of Meaningful Indicators, New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.

ODPM (2006) A Framework for City Regions, ODPM (now DCLG), London.

(http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/588/AFrameworkforCityRegionsResearchReportPDF814Kb_id1163588.pdf)

ODPM (2006) State of the English Cities, ODPM (now DCLG), London.

(http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1127498)

RTPI (2006) Uniting Britain: The evidence base - spatial structure and key drivers, RTPI, London

(http://www.rtpi.org.uk/resources/publications/spatial.html)

Wong, C. (2006) Indicators for Urban and Regional Planning: The Interplay of Policy and Methods, Routledge, London.

Wong, C., Baker, M., Webb, B., Hincks, S. and Schultze-Baing, A. (2015) ‘Mapping policies and programmes: the use of GIS to communicate spatial relationships in England’ Environment and Planning B.