Who We Are Technology Division
The use of technology is integral to how communities are communicating and engaging their citizens to plan for the future. Rapidly evolving tools for community design and decision making are creating new opportunities to enhance public involvement, share information, and make more informed decisions in cities and towns throughout the country.
The American Planning Association (APA) Technology Division links you with others who share your interest in the use of technology and data in the planning of our urban and rural communities. The Division consists of members with a common interest in the uses and impact of technology in planning the future of our communities.
We believe the planning community needs a voice to advocate for best practices in technology. The Division advocates for the responsible and best use of technology in support of planning.
Product Development Grant Planning Through the Black Mirror Handbook and Card Game
Engage with the Technology Division and share your knowledge with others in the planning profession through this initiative made possible with the support of the 2024 American Planning Association's Product Development Grant. This grant will allow the Technology Division to develop a planning technology handbook and a refined version of the "Planning Through the Black Mirror" card game, which together aim to provide accessible, centralized guidance on technology strategy, applications, and ethics in planning practice, while engaging planners in real-world scenarios and best practices. Head over to the product grant website to learn more and for the different ways you can engage with the division!
GitHub For Planners
Many existing trends of digitalization in planning have been accelerated during the pandemic. The importance of software and data in planning have taken a new meaning as cities look to do everything from leveraging AI to managing their curbs. When we hear "Data is the new oil" or "Code is the new concrete", understanding how the refineries and mixers operate might be a good idea. GitHub is a widely used distributed collaboration platform in the tech industry, as a tool for knowledge sharing, software development, and collaboration. Watch the Webinar to learn more!
Technology Division GitHub Page
The technology division is working on building a GitHub presence to work on shared planning resources such as our urban-and-regional-planning-resources page. Please reach out to Technology Division Officers to join the GitHub page, but anyone can favorite, contribute, or participate in APA Technology Division's GitHub projects.
