How Urban Development and Planning Continues to Thrive in the US

October 10, 2012 by

Despite the current recession, urban development and planning in the US is an area that remains steady and stable. Communities continue to change or grow, and there is always a pressing need to oversee these changes in order to make it practical and harmonious. Without urban development planning, things can easily descend into a chaotic mess, which can prove disastrous for the overall health and wealth of a community.

For those who specialize in this field, urban development jobs can be found in both the public and private sector.

Public Urban Planning

The government continues to hire urban planners in great numbers, and this is true in the federal, state, and local governments. An urban planner affiliated with the government may be expected to deal with any of these issues:

  • Redesigning and rebuilding decrepit and deteriorating neighborhoods and areas in a given locality.
  • Planning and distributing the land for industrial, commercial, or residential usage.
  • Making plans for the housing of disenfranchised or poverty-stricken citizens.
  • Making plans to revitalize an area by constructing new commercial establishments, sports arenas, or entertainment venues.
  • Communicating with the public and participating in public discussions regarding the use of public property
  • Monitoring builders and contractors to ensure that they are compliance with local building ordinances and zoning laws.
  • Balancing the needs of various government officials and private businesses.

Private Urban Planning

The private sector also needs urban developers and planners as well, and many urban planners have found employment with civil engineering firms, construction companies, architectural organizations, and even private consulting firms. Even a freelance urban planner can easily find work, as many localities often hire urban development consultants to provide technical advice for specific projects in construction and building design. A private urban planner may also be hired in order to lend assistance when a firm needs to negotiate with government officials and agencies regarding corporate construction.

One of the main advantages of working for the private sector is that a professional has greater leeway regarding schedules and methodologies, and projects may be joined due to one’s interest instead of simply being ordered.

Specializing in Transportation

Transportation is an important specialty in the field of urban planning. It may involve helping out in the planning of mass transit systems and planning how to manage traffic congestions. Air pollution may also have to be dealt with.

The need for urban development and planning in the US is vast and continuous, and a professional in this field of work will never lack the opportunities to move forward.

Related Article:

  • Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan addressed the 2012 Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) National Convention hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Filed Under: Lifestyle

Rebuilding American Cities for the New Century

October 10, 2012 by

In recent years, people are rebuilding American cities. In the past, it can be argued that construction in communities seemed to focus on making automobiles much more practical and easier to use. Habitable land began to be parceled in grids so that roads can remain straight, and bigger roads and expressways were built in order to make travel much faster. This became evident in the 1950s culture that America possessed.

Though there is no doubt that these changes brought great improvements to society as a whole as it replaced the railway as the preeminent form of transportation, the new century is now beginning to see new changes appear one more in community construction trends. The focus now is on the creation of infrastructure for people, rather than for vehicles.

This trend is now starting to appear on a nation-wide scale, and not just confined to a few conscientious communities. In New York City, great numbers of pedaling bikers have become a familiar sight during rush hour commute, as they zip through the numerous bicycle paths that have sprung seemingly overnight in the city (more than 300 miles of bicycle lanes have been built in the last 6 years). In California, the environmental movement is no longer just the exclusive mantra of Hollywood types; there has been a significant increase in the hiring of construction professionals working for green companies, which are busy creating eco-friendly structures for the next generation. In North Carolina, a brand new light railway transit system provides an affordable, quick, and energy-efficient mode of transportation for Charlotte commuters.

The recent rebuilding, according to many of its adherents, required the creation of new rules and guidelines. Twentieth century trends, which have become entrenched in today’s society, such as protracted car commutes, vast interstate systems, and suburban lifestyles, are now being abandoned.

They are now beginning to be replaced by more efficient light rail systems, vast greenery, and exuberant downtown areas. The idea of what is urban is being redefined, and it’s not really about more efficient roads and highways for vehicles. It’s all about people instead: sprawling parks, extensive bike path networks, and wider sidewalks. The improvements benefit the society as a whole, including Americans in poverty.

The city of Charlotte in North Carolina epitomizes this new construction trend. In the last ten years or so, its downtown area has seen the rise of new art centers, nightclubs, and food establishments. The NASCAR Hall of Fame officially opened in May of 2010 and not even the worldwide recession could halt its new growth.

What’s happening in Charlotte is now happening all over the US, and by rebuilding American cities, a new and better sense of ideals may also develop as well.

Read more insights about Rebuilding America’s inner cities of Michael Porter - founder of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.

Filed Under: Economics

Meshing the New Construction Techniques with Traditional Methods

October 10, 2012 by

Traditional building techniques have been in practice for hundreds of years, but historians point to the era of the Industrial Revolution as a harbinger of change in the construction industry. From that point on, changes and improvements in the construction process became much more frequent.

Different materials and metals became available for construction usage, which have lent more convenience (especially in hygienic terms). The process became much faster than ever before, especially with the use of prefabricated units.

In recent years, new techniques have focused on how buildings and homes can become more energy-efficient and how newer construction processes causes as little damage to the environment as possible.

Discoveries and advancements in technology have greatly contributed to the improvements in the construction industry. Creating structural designs have been accelerated by the use of computers and design software. Intensive and slow human labor has been replaced with the use of efficient heavy machinery. Even traditional tools such as hammers and saws have become vastly improved to save many hours of construction work.

These advances not only benefit the people who would get to use these buildings and houses, but the workers themselves reap the rewards as well. Modern construction has become so much safer compared to the construction process used hundreds of years ago, and these days, injuries and fatalities have become the exception rather than the rule.

Though modern construction techniques offer a lot of distinct advantages, there has been a recent revival in the adoption of several aspects of traditional methodology. While it is true that most modern construction methods are much less time-consuming and less expensive, individuality and uniqueness have been sacrificed in the name of the ruthless drive towards efficient, quick, and affordable housing. In other words, there are so many houses and buildings these days, which look too much alike. This is extremely evident in majority of the suburban communities, where a construction firm may create hundreds of houses from the same basic design.

Many people have begun to rebel against this cookie-cutter approach, and have started to look to the past for inspiration. By using a few traditional techniques in conjunction with new methods, many new structures can become more distinctive and unique, in order to add to the greater diversity in human communities.

Clients and designers may be able to mesh disparate styles into a pleasing aesthetic look, and they may choose from the entire history of construction what traditional facets to include. The result is often unexpected, surprising, and unique.

Read more about “accelerated bridge construction”, a new construction technique. And get a bridge replaced in days, not years.

“This will be the new normal,” – Victor M. Mendez, Federal Highway Administration.

Filed Under: News