A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development

Name: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development
Rating: 3.9 (21 reviews)

"Creating Sustainable Urban Environments: A Primer on Planning for the Future"

Created byProf. M. SENTHIL

Last updated 6/2025

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on urban planning and design
Learning urban planning and design, with a particular emphasis on sustainability.
Learning Sustainable Urban Infrastructure with social and environmental considerations
Case Studies and Best Practices, Policy and governance

Course content

4 sections • 15 lectures • 1h 4m total length

Introduction to Sustainable Development Goals2:21
Advance urban planning with sustainable development goals to create environmentally friendly, socially inclusive cities, emphasizing affordable housing, renewable energy, climate action, clean water and sanitation, and sustainable infrastructure.
An Overview of Urban Planning and Urban Design1:53
Explore how urban planning shapes land use and policy for sustainable, equitable city development, and how urban design translates these plans into the built environment.
Planning Trends for Sustainable Development6:15
Identify planning trends for sustainable urban development and examine how they influence future development today.
Indigenous knowledge and sustainability practices in urban areas4:08
Explore indigenous knowledge and sustainability practices in urban areas, including land use, biodiversity, water management, and local food systems. Foster community engagement and storytelling in urban planning.
Real-world examples of sustainable urban development projects4:10
Examine sustainable urban development projects in cities like Vauban, Masdar, Copenhagen, Songdo, Portland, Singapore, Medellin, Amsterdam, Thimphu, Helsinki, Vancouver and Bristol, featuring car-free streets, green buildings, cycling, and renewable energy.

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities: Case Studies2:28
Explore real-world case studies of sustainable cities, including Copenhagen, Kutiba, Vancouver, Reykjavik, and Freiburg, highlighting cycling infrastructure, renewable energy, green buildings, and transit-focused planning.
Goal 13: Climate Action3:27
Implement climate action in urban planning with mitigation and resilient infrastructure. Advance compact transit-oriented development, green spaces, sustainable transport, and community engagement.
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy3:08
Explore how urban planners integrate renewable energy, design energy efficient buildings, and deploy district energy systems and smart grids to deliver affordable, clean energy, while engaging communities and guiding policy.
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation3:26
Promote universal access to safe drinking water through reliable supply, treatment, and infrastructure maintenance within urban planning, while integrating wastewater and stormwater management, sanitation infrastructure, water conservation, and community education.
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure4:25
Design resilient, environmentally friendly cities by integrating green building practices, smart grids, sustainable transportation, green infrastructure, water and waste management, and nature-based solutions to cut emissions and enhance livability.

Data Driven approach for livable cities for sustainability14:24
Explore a data driven approach to livable cities for sustainability by integrating big data, sensors, and urban design to improve housing, transportation, environment, and health.
Ecology in Urban Development2:36
Explore how urban ecology informs urban planning and design through sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, environmental health, and climate adaptation to create resilient, livable cities.

Incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into urban design4:02
align sustainable development goals with urban design by engaging stakeholders, using data to set targets, and integrating policies, implementation, and monitoring for inclusive, resilient cities.
How to Calculate Carbon Emission in Urban area?3:24
Estimate a neighborhood's carbon footprint by collecting energy, transportation, waste, and water data, apply emission factors, and aggregate results into metric tonnes of co2.
Designing Sustainable Urban Futures: Sustainable Urbanism4:16
Design sustainable urban futures by applying sustainable urbanism and sustainable urban development concepts, guiding you to envision and shape urban spaces.

Requirements

This course is for beginners interested in urban planning and design

Description

This course introduces the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their application in urban planning and urban design, focusing on how cities can become more livable, inclusive, resilient, and climate-responsive. It is designed to provide learners with a practical understanding of sustainability principles and their real-world implementation in urban contexts.

The course begins with an overview of the SDGs, urban planning fundamentals, and emerging planning trends that support sustainable development. Learners will explore the role of indigenous knowledge systems, data-driven planning, and ecological thinking in shaping sustainable cities. Through case studies and applied examples, the course highlights how global goals translate into local urban action.

Key SDGs relevant to cities—such as Sustainable Cities (Goal 11), Climate Action (Goal 13), Clean Energy (Goal 7), Water and Sanitation (Goal 6), and Infrastructure and Innovation (Goal 9)—are examined from an urban planning and design perspective. The course also introduces basic methods for carbon emission calculation in urban areas and strategies for designing sustainable urban futures.

Who this course is for:

Students of architecture, urban planning, and urban design
Professionals seeking an introduction to SDG-based planning
Researchers, policymakers, and sustainability enthusiasts
Anyone interested in building sustainable cities

Prerequisites:
No prior experience required. A basic interest in cities and sustainability is sufficient.

By the end of this course, learners will gain a foundational understanding of SDG-oriented urban planning and the ability to critically engage with sustainability challenges in urban environments.

Who this course is for:

This course is for Students,Urbanists, Planners, Architects, Social activist, Politicians, government officials.

A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction5 lectures • 19min

Sustainable Development Goals for Urban Planning and Design5 lectures • 17min

Planning approaches towards Sustainable Development2 lectures • 17min

SDG's for URBAN PLANNING3 lectures • 12min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: