University of Southern California

Research Innovations

USC's Planning Program offers an innovative and dynamic environment for the study of planning. One key component of the program's excellence is the faculty's leadership in research and innovation. The following is an annotated guide.

USC stands at the very forefront in the following areas:

Public-private Interface
Globalization of Planning and International Development
Planning Theory
History of Urban Development and Planning
The Future of Development Patterns
Transportation Policy
The Challenge of Changing Demographics and Planning
Sustainable Cities: Unique Interdisciplinary Program
Economic Development
Urban Design
GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
Housing
Urban Economics
Real Estate Development
Health and Community
Environmental Planning

Public-private Interface
Rethinking is underway nationwide about the meaning of public, private and nonprofit, how the sectors cooperate, and how society's needs can best be met. USC faculty are in the vanguard of this new wave.

Resources at USC on the changing public-private interface:

  • Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy
  • Lusk Center for Real Estate
  • Planning and Markets
  • Tridib Banerjee: Public & private space in urban design

    • Globalization of Planning and International Development
    Los Angeles is a window on the world, the capital of the Pacific Rim, and a gateway to America. USC faculty members are active in research on six continents and share this with their students.

    Resources at USC on globalization and international development:

    Planning Theory
    USC has the largest set of theorists in a planning school and is home of the planning theory listserv.

    Resources at USC on planning theory:

    • Tridib Banerjee: Emphasize a political economy perspective and the production of urban space
    • Martin Krieger: Magnificent books in planning theory
    • Niraj Verma: Noted author of books and originator of the planning theory listserve
    • Michael Dear: Important book on postmodernism
    • Peter Gordon and Harry Richardson: Reconceptualize planning as a market process where regulation is reduced
    • Dowell Myers: Reconceptualize planning in terms of temporal processes (rather than spatial) and emphasize population needs

    History of Urban Development and Planning
    Los Angeles is the setting for the major urban history of the 20th century, and USC has the largest set of historians in a planning school.

    Resources at USC on history of urban development and planning:

    • Greg Hise: The history of suburban development in LA
    • Kevin Starr: The history of California (3 volumes)
    • David Sloane: The history of cemeteries, parks, and medical establishments
    • William Baer: Issues of historic preservation
    • Southern California Study Center

    The Future of Development Patterns
    Los Angeles has long been a laboratory for studying the future of urban development, and USC faculty have expanded upon this base in ground breaking ways.

    Resources at USC on the future of urban development:

    Transportation Policy
    The original freeway city (emulated by so many others), Los Angeles is the location for experiments in car pooling, toll roads, congestion pricing, lightrail trolleys, and even a controversial new subway. USC has the largest set of transportation scholars of any planning school.

    Resources at USC on transportation policy:

    The Challenge of Changing Demographics and Planning
    The Los Angeles region is the leading example in the US of multiethnic diversity and immigration, surpassing even New York. The implications for changes in urban planning are being worked out here.

    Resources at USC on demographics and planning:

    Sustainable Cities: Unique Interdisciplinary Program

    • Sustainable Cities Program

    Economic Development

    Urban Design

    GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

    Housing

    • William Baer: Aging of housing stocks and preservation
    • William Baer and Dowell Myers: Residential overcrowding
    • Dowell Myers: Homeownership trends and policies

    Urban Economics

    • Theory and practice

    Real Estate Development

    Health and Community

    Environmental Planning