Urban Research MRes
Digital Planning Systems and Tools URBAN5144
- Academic Session: 2025-26
- School: School of Social and Political Sciences
- Credits: 10
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course provides an in-depth introduction to recent advancements in digital planning, including new digital methods and tools used to undertake urban modelling and support planning processes, as well as an appraisal of the potential of digital planning to make planning systems and processes more transparent, inclusive and participatory.
Timetable
18 hours of timetabled on-campus teaching in Semester 2 delivered in 3 hourly blocks (1hr lecture + 2hr workshop), once per week, over 6 consecutive weeks.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
A professional-style report of 2,500 words (100%) where students are asked to take into account the relationship between the principles of digital planning, their effectiveness as a tool of public policy, and a critical assessment of their utility in planning practice.
Course Aims
The course aims to introduce students to key principles and practices of digital planning systems, digital planning tools (digital twins, city information modelling, virtual reality and three-dimensional city mapping etc.) and digital planning services. It provides students with an international overview of emergent practices of digital planning within institutionally and culturally diverse urban settings, and an appraisal of the opportunities and barriers to adopting digital practices to enhance urban planning and development.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
■ Describe the principles and practical applications of digital planning and identify critical issues for the effective use of digital planning, including the provision of skills training and the availability and reliability of underlying data (collection, curation, analysis).
■ Evaluate how digital planning methods and tools are applied in practice contexts in different urban settings.
■ Critically assess how digital planning methods/tools potentially strengthen planning systems and processes and improve stakeholder engagement and community involvement.
Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits
Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.
Minimum requirement for award of credit for students on MSc City Planning is D3 or above.
University standard regulations apply to students on other qualifications.