Urban Planners
Official O*NET title: Urban and Regional Planners (19-3051.00)
Also called: city planner, community development planner, community planner, development technician, housing development specialist
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Research, compile, analyze and organize information from maps, reports, investigations, and books for use in reports and special projects
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing urban planners work
10 of 25 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 40%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Research, compile, analyze and organize information from maps, reports, investigations, and books for use in reports and special projects (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Respond to public inquiries and complaints (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Hold public meetings with government officials, social scientists, lawyers, developers, the public, or special interest groups to formulate, develop, or address issues regarding land use or community plans (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Keep informed about economic or legal issues involved in zoning codes, building codes, or environmental regulations (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Advocate sustainability to community groups, government agencies, the general public, or special interest groups (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Prepare reports, using statistics, charts, and graphs, to illustrate planning studies in areas such as population, land use, or zoning (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Assess the feasibility of land use proposals and identify necessary changes (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Determine the effects of regulatory limitations on land use projects (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Review and evaluate environmental impact reports pertaining to private or public planning projects or programs (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Supervise or coordinate the work of urban planning technicians or technologists (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Develop plans for public or alternative transportation systems for urban or regional locations to reduce carbon output associated with transportation (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Identify opportunities or develop plans for sustainability projects or programs to improve energy efficiency, minimize pollution or waste, or restore natural systems (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Coordinate work with economic consultants or architects during the formulation of plans or the design of large pieces of infrastructure (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Investigate property availability for purposes of development (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct interviews, surveys and site inspections concerning factors that affect land usage (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare, develop and maintain maps and databases (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare, maintain and update files and records (main task) — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Research, compile, analyze and organize information from maps, reports, investigations, and books for use in reports and special projects”. Try the prompt for: “Respond to public inquiries and complaints”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and urban planners
Will AI replace urban planners?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 10 of the 25 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 15 of the 25 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which urban planner tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: research, compile, analyze and organize information from maps, reports, investigations, and books for use in reports and special projects; respond to public inquiries and complaints; recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
Which urban planner tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data; conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use; evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 94% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a urban planner start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Urban Planners ranks #184 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #24 of 45 in Science & Research.
Related jobs
- Will AI change natural sciences managers?
- Will AI change animal scientists?
- Will AI change food scientists?
- Will AI change soil and plant scientists?
- Will AI change biochemists?
- Will AI change microbiologists?
- Will AI change project managers?
- Will AI change landscape architects?
- Will AI change conservation scientists?
- Will AI change management consultants?
- See all jobs