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Urban & Regional Planning

Subject specialist
Dr. Robert V. Labaree
labaree@usc.edu
(213)-740-5824

Research Help

  • Research consultation
    • Dr. Robert V. Labaree (213)-740-5824
    • Reference Desk (213)-740-1768
  • To make an appointment with Dr. Labaree, email him at labaree@usc.edu
  • Electronic assistance: Ask-A-Librarian

Research Guides

Key Databases

Below are links to databases and electronic resources that support the study of urban planning and its related sub-disciplines. For a more comprehensive list, go here.

  • Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals -- comprehensive index to the literature of architecture and architectural design, including urban planning and design. Surveys more than 700 U.S. and foreign journals, including publications of professional associations, U.S. state and regional periodicals, and major serial publications in the architecture and design of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Australia.
  • ICONDA -- the International Construction Database contains over 400,000 references to international books, research reports, conference proceedings, business reports and non-conventional literature concerning to all aspects of planning and building from twenty three countries.
  • Journal of Planning Literature -- comprehensive index to recent books and journal articles in the field of city and regional planning and design.
  • Sage Urban Studies Abstracts -- provides access to critical developments on all aspects of urban studies. Topics covered include trends in urbanization, urban history, housing and real estate, land use, transportation, urban fiscal and budgetary policy, and general theory and research.
  • Transportation Research Information Services [TRIS] Online -- contains almost half a million records of references to books, technical reports, conference proceedings, journal articles, and on-going research in the field of transportation.
  • ULI Development Case Studies -- feature project reports of innovative residential, retail, office, industrial, and mixed-use projects. Each profile report includes a complete description of the project; the challenges faced and the lessons learned; distinctive features that set it apart from the ordinary, sales, rent, and cost data; and illustrations of the site and building plan.

Scholarly Web Sites

Below is a selective list of web sites that support the study of urban planning and its sub-disciplines. Emphasis is placed on linking to directories and resource guides that direct you to additional scholarly sources.

Cities and the Built Environment

  • The Cities Alliance -- a global coalition of cities and their development partners committed to scaling up successful approaches to poverty reduction, brings cities together in a direct dialogue with bilateral and multilateral agencies and financial institutions, and help cities develop sustainable financing strategies, and attract long-term capital investments for infrastructure and other services.
  • Cyburbia -- a portal and social networking site for urban planners and others interested in cities and the built environment that includes a message board, an image hosting gallery, syndicated feeds of hundreds of planning-related weblogs, and a selective directory of web sources relevant to planning and urbanism.
  • MPO Directory Listing -- a directory sponsored by the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations of links to all of the approximately 700 Metropolitan Planning Organizations in the United States. An excellent resource for linking to regional and local information.
  • SprawlWatch Clearinghouse -- identifys, collects, compiles, and disseminates information on the best land use practices for citizens, grassroots organizations, environmentalists, public officials, planners, architects, the media and business leaders.
  • Urban Future.org -- an organization that strives to change the climate and terms of the debate over urban policy by developing and promoting voluntary, private-sector, and market-oriented solutions to urban problems. The program's principal activities focus on urban economic development policy and land-use planning at the local, regional, state, and national levels.
  • The Urban Institute -- the Institute gathers and analyzes data, conducts policy research, evaluates programs and services, and educates Americans on critical issues related to the built environment.

Directories and Resource Guides

  • About Planning -- an Internet clearing house for information about websites, publications, essays, and news related to land use planning, growth management, comprehensive planning, smart growth, new urbanism and much more.
  • LUPIN: California Land Use Planning Information Network -- a project of the California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES), the site contains links to planning data, organizations, and other resources, including the full-text of selected California, tribal, regional, county, and city plans.
  • Open Directory Project: Urban and Regional Planning -- a comprehensive directory of the Web constructed and maintained by a global community of volunteer editors.
  • Planetizen: The Planning & Development Network -- provided by Urban Insight for the urban planning, design, and development community, this is a one-stop source for urban planning news, commentary, interviews, event coverage, book reviews, announcements, jobs, consultant listings, training, and more.
  • Sapling.info -- a global gateway for information and a forum for its exchange, centered around more than 1,100 reviewed links to architecture, planning and landscape-related websites.
  • State and Local Government on the Web -- provides one-stop access to the websites of thousands of state agencies and city and county governments, including local and regional planning agencies. Drop-down menus can be used to view all the websites in a given state or to view websites of state government constitutional officers, state legislatures, state judiciaries and departments across all states.

Historic Preservation and Digital Archives

  • Cultural Heritage Search Engine -- a search engine about the conservation of cultural heritage, restoration and maintenance of the architecture, preservation of the urban landscape.
  • Map Collection, Perry-Castañeda Library -- comprehensive digital collection of maps, both contemporary and historical, developed by the University of Texas Libraries. Includes links to maps of all the continents, a detailed directory of map resources for each state, and a guide to other map resources on the web.
  • PreservationDirectory.com -- excellent online resource about historic preservation, building restoration, and cultural resource management in the United States and Canada.
  • Urban Planning, 1794-1918 -- a bibliography of journals, conference reports, books, official documents, and other sources related to all aspects of urban planning, compiled by John W. Reps, a Professor Emeritus at Cornell University.

Statistics

  • American FactFinder -- interactive application supports access to data from the Economic Census, the American Community Survey, the 1990 Census, Census 2000, and the latest Population Estimates.
  • Demographia -- this web site contains the world's most comprehensive data on large urban area population density as well as specialized data from the censuses of France, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and other nations. The site also specializes in urban development, urban land use policies, and the "New Urbanism," with data and analysis generally critical of so-called "smart growth." Provides comprehensive information from all over the world on these and many other topics related to the built environment.
  • Geospatial One-Stop -- a geographic information system (GIS) portal that serves as a public gateway for improving access to geospatial information and data. The portal contains thousands of metadata records (information about the data) and links to live maps, downloadable data sets, images, clearinghouses, map files, and more.
  • National Historical Geographic Information System -- provides, free of charge, aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States between 1790 and 2000. NHGIS includes state and county statistical data from 1790-2000; census tract statistical data from 1910-2000; historic state and county boundary files (1790-2000) and census tract boundary files (1910-2000); all summary data (at all summary levels, including census blocks) from 1970-2000; and, County Business Patterns data from 1970-2000.
  • Real Estate Sales Statistics -- a state-by-state compendium of existing and pending home sales data and metro area home prices published on a quarterly basis. Produced by the National Association of Realtors, the site also includes local economic indicators.
  • Regional Economic Conditions (RECON) -- a database of economic statistics that helps the FDIC evaluate the risks facing financial institutions. It includes the following data: Industry Activity, Employment and Income, Real Estate Activity, Selected U.S. Commodity Prices, and County Location Maps.
  • State of the Cities Data Systems -- produced by HUD, this is an excellent site to find information on cities. It manipulates data from various federal agencies and produces useful municipal data sets including, fair market rents, income limits, metropolitan American housing survey data, Section 8 administrative fees, etc. The Quick Link option will enable you to find all these datasets and more for one particular city.
  • University of Virginia Historical Census Browser -- an online database that allows you to examine state and county topics for individual census years, search multiple topics within a census year, produce tables of data by state or county, sort data by selected categories, and create ratios between any two data categories of historical census data. Information is not downloadable and does not include areas below the county level (e.g. cities, census tracts).

Sustainable Development Resources

  • Ecosustainable Hub -- this site provide a one-stop connection to resources and tools to a signficant variety of resources related to ecology, environment, and sustainability and the application of sustainable technologies to waste treatment, recycling, housing, architectural design, project development, ethical finance, sustainable living, recreation, and renewable energy.
  • Sustainable Development Online -- provides access to significant web sites built by organizations supporting the move towards sustainable development with descriptions of and links to hundreds of web sites. Site is part of EnviroWindows, the European Environment Agency platform for knowledge sharing and development.
  • Sustainable Cities Research Institute -- a research and consultancy institute based within the School of the Built Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Includes a resource page to additional links.
  • United Nations Human Settlements Programme -- UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. Web site contains statistical data and numerous research reports.

Transportation Resources

  • New Jersey TIDE Center Transportation Links -- resource page of transportation-related information available on the World Wide Web. Links are categorized as follows: ground/water transport; airports and airlines, academic departments, programs, and centers of transportation research; government and quasi-public organizations; private companies in the transportation industry excluding vehicle manufacturers; and, various miscellaneous items of general interest such as online publications and staistical data sources.
  • Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) -- coordinates the U.S. Department of Transportation's research programs and is charged with advancing the deployment of cross-cutting technologies to improve our Nation’s transportation system. The page providesa good place from which to link to other agency web sites, including the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
  • Surface Transportation Policy Project -- a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to ensure safer communities and smarter transportation choices that enhance the economy, improve public health, promote social equality, and protect the environment.
  • Transport Research Knowledge Centre (TRKC) -- provides overview of research activities at European and national level. For in-depth information, consult links to the program and project profiles. For a wider view, choose the thematic reports and policy brochures.
  • Transportation Research Board -- one of six major divisions of the National Research Council, the Board analyzes national transportation policy issues, offers guidance on federal and other research programs, publishes research reports, and provides access to research information from around the world.

Profile of the Collection

The planning curriculum has at its core the study of urban and regional theory, planning history and theory, and planning methods. The North American experience is emphasized but English-language material is also collected to support academic program initiatives in Asia and Europe. Concentrations include land use, real estate development, economic development, information systems in planning, transportation planning, environmental planning, social justice issues, international planning, and the history of city planning. Overlap with other subjects include architecture, business, environmental studies, geography, history, political science, public administration, and sociology. Traffic engineering items are split between Seaver Science Library and VKC Library depending on whether the emphasis is engineering [Science] or public policy planning [VKC]. The Architecture and Fine Arts Library also maintains a collection of regional architecture journals that are used by faculty and students from School of Polict, Planning, and Development. Publications from the United States, Canada, and selected western European countries are acquired based on research and curricular emphasis within the School. Special attention is paid to materials about the Southern California region. Primary focus is on twentieth century and current materials with items about earlier time periods acquired selectively. With the general exception of dissertations and course textbooks, scholarly materials of all types are collected, including monographs [books], scholarly journals, microfoms, government documents, and digital resources. English is the primary language of the urban planning collection, with major western European languages acquired selectively. Occasional solicitation of municipal planning commissions in the Southern California region may be conducted to build and maintain the planning documents collection. For a more comprehensive overview and analysis of the current collection policy, GO HERE [pdf].

Instruction Services for Faculty

To schedule a class on how to effectively use the library's services and resources and/or to schedule tours of the Von KleinSmid Center Library, e-mail Dr. Labaree at labaree@usc.edu or use the link below:

Last Updated: 7/3/08