Urban planners are the ones responsible for developing the vision of future sustainable cities. They plan a range of amenities that ensure the expansion of the city is in harmony with the nature, such as biking lanes and parks. For example, some cities have implemented a smart ot planning approach which has decreased traffic by 30%. If you want to know how the cities are changing, look at this article from The Guardian. Modern cities are em?bracing advanced technology and greener strategies to transform urban eco?zones, which is quite encouraging. This all fosters the development of urban settings to facilitate healthy human and environmental interaction.
To achieve this, it is necessary to master land use planning, zoning and sustainable design of cities as well as control s the impact of urban growth on the environment. Command of GIS, transportation planning and climate adaptation strongly help achieve problem solving capability. Stakeholder collaboration is another important step for urban planners in relation to bland developers and governmental authorities. As cities are moving towards sustainable energy infrastructure, the demand for professionals in this field, particularly for smart city development, is increasing, and with it, average salaries.
The demand for urban planners who are trained in sustainability is expected to grow significantly due to the forecasted increase of the world urban population to 6.7 billion by 2050. There is an increase in spending by governments on green infrastructure, public transport, and climate change mitigation projects so there is a greater need for planners that can design cities that are both sustainable and efficient. As per the US Bureau of Labor, there will be 4% growth in job opportunities available for urban planners by 2032.
AECOM, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and WSP Global are the primary employers for such professionals in the USA. Arup, AtkinsRéalis and the European Environment Agency are multinational companies that operate in the UK, Europe, and also in India where Tata Consulting Engineers, NIUA, and Smart Cities Mission projects are creating new job opportunities. Planners that specialize in these areas are increasing in demand around the globe owing to the acceleration of urbanization.
Assesses financial viability of renewable energy projects, helping investors make informed decisions.
Advises businesses & organizations on reducing waste and going green, earning $70,000−$150,000 (€55K-€110K).
Uses Artificial intelligence to optimize energy grids, reduce outages, and earns $80,000−$150,000 (€60K-€110K).
Uses AI to optimize renewable energy systems, improving efficiency and predicting energy generation.
Innovates and scales technologies to address climate change, from carbon capture to renewable energy.
Develops hydrogen-based energy systems for clean fuel production and storage.