Engineering + Urban Planning with Dr. Steve Hankey

Summary

The speaker discusses their work in urban planning, focusing on creating healthy environments for communities. This includes promoting active lifestyles through biking and walking, protecting against environmental hazards like air quality issues, and promoting mental health. Their journey into urban planning began after working at Zipcar, where they were introduced to urban planning concepts. The speaker appreciates the tangible changes urban planning can bring to communities, particularly through projects like trail systems and parkways. They emphasize the broad scope of urban planning, from housing to equity issues, and the importance of focusing on areas of personal impact.

Takeaways

• 🚴 Urban planning aims to create environments where every community can thrive, focusing on promoting healthy lifestyles.
• 🏃 The goal is to provide spaces where people can be active, like walking and biking areas, improving overall health.
• 🌳 Urban planning also addresses protection from environmental hazards, such as improving air quality and reducing exposure to contaminants.
• 🧠 A newer focus in urban planning is promoting mental health through thoughtful environmental design.
• 🏙️ The speaker's introduction to urban planning began after an engineering undergraduate degree, with practical work at Zipcar, which was influenced by urban planners.
• 🚗 Working with Zipcar exposed the speaker to various neighborhoods, fostering an interest in urban planning and community impact.
• 📚 The speaker pursued both urban planning and engineering in graduate school, expanding their understanding of the field.
• 👷 Unlike traditional engineering, urban planning allows for visible change on the ground, especially in community projects like bike and pedestrian paths.
• 🏞️ Projects in urban planning, such as trails and parkways, may progress slowly, but they lead to tangible improvements in the urban landscape.
• 🌆 Urban planning is a broad field, encompassing housing, environment, equity, and community engagement, requiring a focus on areas where one can make a significant impact.

Q & A

What is the speaker's definition of urban planning?

The speaker defines urban planning as creating processes and the ability to allow every community to thrive, with a focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle and protecting communities from environmental hazards.

How does the speaker connect urban planning to health?

The speaker connects urban planning to health by emphasizing the creation of spaces where people can be active (e.g., biking, walking) and are protected from environmental hazards like poor air quality. They also mention promoting mental health as a newer area of focus.

What kind of work has the speaker been involved in related to air quality?

The speaker mentions working on protecting communities from exposure to air quality issues and other contaminants as part of their urban planning efforts.

How did the speaker become interested in urban planning?

The speaker became interested in urban planning after working for Zipcar, where they were exposed to urban planning through projects involving placing cars in different neighborhoods. This experience, combined with their background in engineering, led them to study both urban planning and engineering in graduate school.

What did the speaker study in undergraduate and graduate school?

The speaker studied engineering in their undergraduate years and later pursued both urban planning and engineering in graduate school.

What is one of the aspects the speaker enjoys about urban planning?

The speaker enjoys seeing tangible changes in the urban environment as a result of their work, such as improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, which directly benefits the community.

What types of projects has the speaker worked on?

The speaker has worked on projects involving bicycle and pedestrian counts, planning trail systems, parkways, and other community-focused urban planning efforts.

How does the speaker feel about the pace of change in urban planning?

While the speaker acknowledges that change can be slower than desired, they find it rewarding to see gradual improvements in urban environments over time.

What makes urban planning a broad and complex field according to the speaker?

Urban planning is broad because it encompasses a wide range of issues, including housing, the environment, equity, and community engagement, making it a field with diverse and intersecting areas of focus.

What advice does the speaker offer for those entering the field of urban planning?

The speaker suggests that individuals entering the field should first explore various topics within urban planning and then focus on the areas where they feel they can make the most impact.