JOB REPORT / 19-3051 · 25 TASKS

Urban and Regional Planners.

Can AI do the work of Urban and Regional Planners?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

Drag the dot. There’s no wrong answer; it starts at our estimate.

Starting pointOur estimate

The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Prepare, develop and maintain maps and databases
Prepare reports, using statistics, charts, and graphs, to illustrate…
Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports…

Your free lesson plan builds the skills that keep you ahead of AI.

A free set of short lessons, about 20 minutes each, at your own pace. No payment, no experience needed.

TURN THIS INTO SKILLS YOU CAN PROVE Early access

Earn a certificate in your job

A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Urban and Regional Planners work. It covers the 25 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

25 of 25 tasks reviewed

We went through all 25 core tasks in this job, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Urban and Regional Planners actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Prepare, develop and maintain maps and databases.
AI DOES
Suggests data structures, auto-fills databases, and drafts map templates
YOU DO
Decide what the data means for real neighborhoods and people
TASK 02
Prepare reports, using statistics, charts, and graphs, to illustrate planning studies in areas such as population, land use, or zoning.
AI DOES
Drafts report sections, builds charts from data, and summarizes statistics
YOU DO
Apply local knowledge and professional judgment to shape findings that communities will act on
TASK 03
Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.
AI DOES
Drafts narrative text, summarizes land use data, and suggests chart or map structures
YOU DO
Apply local context, verify data accuracy, and decide what the findings mean for real communities
TASK 04
Respond to public inquiries and complaints.
AI DOES
Drafts response letters and looks up regulations fast
YOU DO
Read the community mood and decide the right message
TASK 05
Prepare, maintain and update files and records, including land use data and statistics.
AI DOES
Sorts, formats, and summarizes land use data and flags missing or outdated records
YOU DO
Verify data accuracy against local knowledge and decide what changes matter
TASK 06
Keep informed about economic or legal issues involved in zoning codes, building codes, or environmental regulations.
AI DOES
Searches, summarizes, and flags changes in regulations, court rulings, and economic reports
YOU DO
Apply regulatory knowledge to real places, politics, and community needs
TASK 07
Investigate property availability for purposes of development.
AI DOES
Searches property databases, zoning maps, ownership records, and flags available parcels
YOU DO
Visit sites, talk to stakeholders, and weigh real-world development fit
TASK 08
Identify opportunities or develop plans for sustainability projects or programs to improve energy efficiency, minimize pollution or waste, or restore natural systems.
AI DOES
Searches case studies, summarizes regulations, drafts sustainability frameworks, and maps data patterns
YOU DO
Weigh community input, navigate local politics, and adapt plans to real places and people
TASK 09
Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.
AI DOES
Drafts policy language, summarizes zoning data, models land-use scenarios, and flags gaps in plans
YOU DO
Balance competing community interests and make judgment calls in public meetings
TASK 10
Evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability.
AI DOES
Scans environmental data, summarizes regulations, and drafts impact checklists
YOU DO
Weigh tradeoffs between community needs, politics, and long-term sustainability
TASK 11
Assess the feasibility of land use proposals and identify necessary changes.
AI DOES
Scans zoning codes, flags conflicts, and summarizes relevant regulations and data
YOU DO
Weigh community values, political tradeoffs, and real-world site conditions
TASK 12
Determine the effects of regulatory limitations on land use projects.
AI DOES
Searches zoning laws, flags relevant restrictions, and summarizes regulatory conflicts
YOU DO
Weigh local politics, community values, and site-specific tradeoffs that rules alone cannot capture
TASK 13
Review and evaluate environmental impact reports pertaining to private or public planning projects or programs.
AI DOES
Summarizes reports, flags missing data, and highlights key risk sections
YOU DO
Apply local knowledge and make judgment calls on community impact
TASK 14
Develop plans for public or alternative transportation systems for urban or regional locations to reduce carbon output associated with transportation.
AI DOES
Analyzes ridership data, models carbon reduction scenarios, and drafts written sections of transportation plans
YOU DO
Balance competing community needs, navigate politics, and make value-based tradeoffs that affect real people's lives
TASK 15
Advocate sustainability to community groups, government agencies, the general public, or special interest groups.
AI DOES
Drafts speeches, slide decks, fact sheets, and tailored messaging for different audiences
YOU DO
Show up in person, listen deeply, and earn community trust through real relationships
TASK 16
Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use.
AI DOES
Analyzes collected data, summarizes research, finds patterns in demographic or economic datasets, and drafts report sections
YOU DO
Go out to the site, talk to community members, and judge what the numbers mean for real people and places
TASK 17
Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.
AI DOES
Drafts alternative plan options, summarizes stakeholder concerns, and generates comparison charts of proposals
YOU DO
Show up in person, read the room, and earn community trust through real dialogue
TASK 18
Coordinate work with economic consultants or architects during the formulation of plans or the design of large pieces of infrastructure.
AI DOES
Drafts meeting agendas, summarizes notes, and tracks project milestones
YOU DO
Build trust and navigate competing priorities across teams
TASK 19
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.
AI DOES
Drafts meeting agendas, summarizes public comments, and creates background research documents
YOU DO
Show up, listen, build trust, and guide live debate between real people with competing interests
TASK 20
Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects, such as transportation, conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, or community use.
AI DOES
Drafts briefing notes, summarizes project goals, and pulls relevant zoning data to prep for the meeting
YOU DO
Show up, listen actively, and build trust with officials face to face
TASK 21
Supervise or coordinate the work of urban planning technicians or technologists.
AI DOES
Drafts status reports, organizes task lists, and flags scheduling conflicts
YOU DO
Coach team members, resolve conflicts, and make judgment calls about work quality
TASK 22
Conduct interviews, surveys and site inspections concerning factors that affect land usage, such as zoning, traffic flow and housing.
AI DOES
Helps design survey questions, analyzes survey results, and summarizes findings
YOU DO
Show up in person, build trust with community members, and observe real conditions on the ground
TASK 23SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.
AI DOES
Analyzes proposal data and flags key issues
YOU DO
Weigh trade-offs and make the final call
About this analysis
36% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 24SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Research, compile, analyze and organize information from maps, reports, investigations, and books for use in reports and special projects.
AI DOES
Searches sources and pulls relevant data quickly
YOU DO
Judge what's credible and what connects
About this analysis
35% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 25SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.
AI DOES
Analyzes regulations and generates feasibility reports
YOU DO
Judge trade-offs and recommend the best path
About this analysis
19% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

START LEARNING AI

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.

There are 25 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

Try a free lesson

AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Urban and Regional Planners
SOC code: 19-3051
Tasks reviewed: 25 of 25

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $89,320 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $101,340 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 44,230
Employed in Colorado: 1,300
Job outlook: +3.4% by 2034 · ~3,400 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Prepare, develop and maintain maps and databases.

Prepare reports, using statistics, charts, and graphs, to illustrate planning studies in areas such as population, land use, or zoning.

Create, prepare, or requisition graphic or narrative reports on land use data, including land area maps overlaid with geographic variables, such as population density.

Respond to public inquiries and complaints.

Prepare, maintain and update files and records, including land use data and statistics.

Keep informed about economic or legal issues involved in zoning codes, building codes, or environmental regulations.

Investigate property availability for purposes of development.

Identify opportunities or develop plans for sustainability projects or programs to improve energy efficiency, minimize pollution or waste, or restore natural systems.

Design, promote, or administer government plans or policies affecting land use, zoning, public utilities, community facilities, housing, or transportation.

Evaluate proposals for infrastructure projects or other development for environmental impact or sustainability.

Assess the feasibility of land use proposals and identify necessary changes.

Determine the effects of regulatory limitations on land use projects.

Review and evaluate environmental impact reports pertaining to private or public planning projects or programs.

Develop plans for public or alternative transportation systems for urban or regional locations to reduce carbon output associated with transportation.

Advocate sustainability to community groups, government agencies, the general public, or special interest groups.

Conduct field investigations, surveys, impact studies, or other research to compile and analyze data on economic, social, regulatory, or physical factors affecting land use.

Mediate community disputes or assist in developing alternative plans or recommendations for programs or projects.

Coordinate work with economic consultants or architects during the formulation of plans or the design of large pieces of infrastructure.

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.

Discuss with planning officials the purpose of land use projects, such as transportation, conservation, residential, commercial, industrial, or community use.

Supervise or coordinate the work of urban planning technicians or technologists.

Conduct interviews, surveys and site inspections concerning factors that affect land usage, such as zoning, traffic flow and housing.

Recommend approval, denial, or conditional approval of proposals.

Research, compile, analyze and organize information from maps, reports, investigations, and books for use in reports and special projects.

Advise planning officials on project feasibility, cost-effectiveness, regulatory conformance, or possible alternatives.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.