Engineering for Urban Planners

Course content

This course, organized by the City and Regional Planning department and lectured by the related engineering departments, provides a foundational understanding of essential engineering principles in geological, structural, and environmental fields, focusing on their applications in urban areas. Students will gain basic knowledge in analyzing, planning and implementing urban systems while understanding the engineering constraints and solutions relevant to sustainable and resilient urban development. Key topics are given in three main parts: geological and structural engineering in urban planning, and environmental engineering and urban infrastructure. The first section covers the geological processes that shape urban landscapes, including site selection, soil mechanics, and risk assessments related to natural hazards. The second section introduces principles of load-bearing structures, foundation engineering, and seismic resilience, with an emphasis on building safety and stability. Focused on resource management, the last section addresses urban water supply, wastewater treatment, and solid waste management, By integrating these three areas, the course prepares students to make informed, engineering-based decisions critical to urban and regional planning, ensuring that urban spaces are safe, sustainable, and resilient.