A Systems View Of Planning

A Systems View Of Planning: Towards A Theory of the Urban and Regional Planning sets out to be a special kind of theory of the process known as town and regional planning, which is based upon the broader theory of General Systems and its allied field of Cybernetics. Because of this, the content of the book differs considerably from what most town planners think of as relevant to the subject. The book begins with physical change and human ecology, and then moves on to systems and planning, its goals, projecting the future of the system, operational models and their underlying theories, and management and planning. The book appeals to planners, architects, and city engineers, especially those who wish to learn or make a study on the systems view of planning, its different theories and methods, its possible future, and its many applications in designing and improving towns and cities.

A Systems View of Planning: Towards a Theory of the Urban and Regional Planning Process, Second Edition covers theories of the process of town and regional planning. The book discusses physical change and human ecology; the theory of planning; the variety and entropy of systems; and planning as a conceptual system. The text also describes space and spatial planning; goal formulation in planning; exploratory and normative techniques and intuitive methods in projecting the system; and operational models and their underlying theories. Using linear programming and entropy methods; major aspects of evaluation, program budgeting, cost benefit analysis, and matrix methods; and the spatial method for regional planning are also covered. The book tackles the mixed-programming strategy as well. Engineers, architects, farmers, and foresters will find the book invaluable.

Taylor describes the development of urban planning ideas since the end of the Second World War, outlining the main theories from the traditional view of planning as an exercise in physical design to recent views of planning as 'communicative action'.

Imagine living in a city where people could move freely and buildings could be replaced at minimal cost. Reality cannot be further from such. Despite this imperfect world in which we live, urban planning has become integral and critical especially in the face of rapid urbanization in many developing and developed countries. This book introduces the axiomatic/experimental approach to urban planning and addresses the criticism of the lack of a theoretical foundation in urban planning. With the rise of the complexity movement, the book is timely in its depiction of cities as complex systems and explains why planning from within is useful in the face of urban complexity. It also includes policy implications for the Chinese cities in the context of axiomatic/experimental planning theory.

Urban and Regional Planning Series, Volume 27: Critical Readings in Planning Theory presents a critical perspective on urban and regional planning. This book provides an understanding of various theoretical perspectives on planning. Organized into five parts encompassing 19 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the economic and social theory of planning. This text then examines the procedural planning theory, which deals with the making and implementing of plans. Other chapters consider the introduction of the systems approach to planning. This book discusses as well the theoretical respecification of the nature of town planning as it has developed under capitalism. The final chapter deals with the ideology of planning that is consistent with the view that town planning can be objectively useful. This book is a valuable resource for students of planning who want to understand planning as it is. Urban planners and engineers will also find this book useful.