Urban Transportation, Land Use, and the Environment: Santiago Case Study

How do rapidly growing cities balance transit demands, spatial expansion, and environmental health? Navigating the complex relationship between how we build our cities and how we move through them is one of the most critical challenges of modern urban planning. This text-based course introduces you to the core principles of urban planning, analyzing the vital connections between land-use policies, transport networks, and ecological sustainability using the Santiago metropolitan area as a central case study. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational concepts of urban spatial structure, zoning, and transit systems. - Analyze how land-use density directly influences public transportation efficiency and commuter behavior. - Evaluate the environmental impacts of urban transport, focusing on air quality, emissions, and mitigation strategies. - Examine Santiago's transport evolution and policy reforms as a real-world planning model. - Explore modern planning frameworks including Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and integration of sustainable micro-mobility. This course begins with key terminology and foundational planning theories before guiding you through the practical dynamics of urban growth and environmental policy. Designed entirely for beginners, this course requires no prior background in urban design or engineering. Start reading today to build your understanding of how modern cities can develop sustainably.