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Urban and Regional Planners

Credit: Virginia Sea Grant, CC BY-ND 2.0 on Flickr

Urban and regional planners are responsible for developing plans and programs to guide the development and use of land and physical infrastructure in urban, suburban, and rural areas. In the geosciences, they may work on a variety of projects related to natural hazards, climate change, sustainable development, and other environmental issues. Their work requires a moderate background in the geosciences and may include:

  • Conducting research on topics related to geography, demographics, land use patterns, transportation systems, and environmental factors to understand the needs and challenges of a particular region or community.

  • Developing plans and programs that address specific problems or goals, such as the mitigation of natural disasters or implementing sustainable development.

  • Analyzing data to identify trends, patterns, and potential problems that need to be addressed in their plans and programs.

  • Consulting with and presenting to stakeholders to gather input, solicit feedback, and ensure that their plans and programs meet the needs of the community.

  • Monitoring the implementation of their plans to assess progress and effectiveness.

Read more about this occupation on O*NET OnLine at www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-3051.00

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