Topic outline

  • Introduction

    Course Summary: 

    This course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts, theories, and practices of urban planning, as a discipline that shapes the built environment and influences social, economic, and environmental outcomes. It will enable students to understand the historical, political, and cultural context of urbanization and its impacts on human settlements, land use patterns, transportation systems, housing, public services, and natural resources. The course will acquaint students with the various methods, techniques, and tools used by urban planners to analyze urban problems, formulate policies and plans, and evaluate their effectiveness and equity.

    The course will include: Basic concept of planning, Dimensions and levels of development plans, Objectives of spatial planning, Concept and history of urban planning, Evolution of urban planning, Commonly used terminologies for urban area, Land use components, Principles of land use planning, Principles of designing residential neighborhood, Tools and techniques of urban planning, Development planning and related administrative units in Bangladesh. 


    Course Information:

    • Course Name: Principles of Urban Planning
    • Course Code:  0731-121
    • Credit: 3
    • Program: Bachelor of Real Estate


  • Topic 1: Concept of Planning

    This topic includes: What is planning, Why do we plan, How do we plan (stages of the planning process), To what extent can we plan, To what extent should we plan, How can we plan for others, Definition and characteristics of planning, What do planners do, Dimensions of development planning, Spatial and Aspatial Planning, Levels of Planning (national, regional, local with examples), Objectives of development planning (Economic efficiency, Functionality, Resource Conservation, Environmental Sustainability, Social justice)

  • Topic 2: Brief History of Urban Planning

    This topic includes: Emergence of urban planning, Evolution of urban planning, Working class movement, Urban public health, Parks movement, City beautiful movement, Urban growth, Garden city concept, New town, Satellite town.

  • Topic 3: Commonly Used Terminologies for Urban Areas

    This topic includes: Definition of urban area in the Bangladeshi context, Megacity, City, Town, City corporation, Paurashava/ municipal area, Metropolitan area, Suburb, Urban conurbation/ Agglomeration, Primate city, Smart city

  • Topic 4: Land Use Components

    This topic includes: Land use, Land cover, Major land use components of a town, City center, Central business district (CBD), Residential area, Industrial area, Open space, Urban fringe or town periphery, Transport system, Road hierarchy

  • Topic 5: Principles of Land Use Planning

    This topic includes: Land use values, Social, market and ecological values of land use,  Land as a setting for activity system, Mixing vs. segregation of land uses, Compatibility among land uses, Land use-transport linkage

  • Topic 6: Principles of Designing Residential Neighbourhood

    This topic includes: Concept of residential area, Neighborhood unit design principles by Clarence Perry, Transit oriented development (TOD)

  • Topic 7: Urban Spatial Structure

    This topic includes: Urban Spatial Structure, Concentric Zone Theory, Sector Theory, Multiple Nuclei Theory 

  • Topic 8: Institutional Framework of Planning in Bangladesh

    This topic includes: Institutional Framework of Planning in Bangladesh, Planning Commission, Ministry of Housing and Public Works (PWD, NHA, HBRI, City Development Authorities, UDD), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGED, City Corporation, Bangladesh rural development board), Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (DTCA, RHD, BBA, BRTA, BRTC)