ObjectivesThis Ontario College Diploma program is aimed at providing technical and design skills for land development and resource management industries in both rural and urban communities and from both private and public sector perspectives. Students learn how to use GIS (Geographical Information Systems), CAD (Computer Aided Design) and graphic presentation using case studies and actual land development projects. Students acquire skills to build and maintain spatial (geographic) data bases, plan and design land development projects within a community context and prepare graphic presentations
Practical experienceThis program emphasizes work experience, comprising of two co-operative work terms.
Academic titleGIS and Urban Planning Ontario College Diploma
Course descriptionLevel 1 Credits
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
WRIT-1036 Reason & Writing 1-Art & Design 3.00
COMP-1004 Presentation Graphics 2.00
CADD-1007 Cad Basics - Urban Planning 4.00
METH-1035 Geographical Info Systems 1 3.00
PLAN-1016 Land Use Planning 3.00
PLAN-1014 Site Planning 2.50
Level 2 Credits
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
COMM-3023 Comm. for Designers, Planners, Techs 3.00
Level 3 Credits
Gen Ed - Take a 3 credit General Education elective course
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
PLAN-1004 Subdivision Design 2.00
CADD-3025 CAD Applications 1 4.00
METH-5018 Geographical Info Systems 3 5.00
COMP-3075 Mobile GIS & GPS 4.00
PLAN-1015 Community Planning & Design 4.50
Level 4 Credits
Gen Ed - Take a 3 credit General Education elective course
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
PLAN-3003 Rural Planning 2.00
LAWS-3017 Real Property Law 2.00
CADD-3020 CAD Applications 2 4.00
METH-3003 Data Collection & Research Methods 2.00
METH-3013 Web Based GIS 2.00
METH-3016 AutoCAD Map GIS 2.00
METH-3009 Geographical Information Systems 4 3.00
Gen Ed - Electives
Take 6 General Education Credits -
Normally taken in Levels 3 and 4
ARCH-3004 - Modern Architecture
This survey course of 20th century architecture covers the Modern Movement and subsequent developments, from about 1850 to the present. Major period styles are presented as expressions of cultural values, impacted by social and technological changes. At the completion of the course, students will have an increased aesthetic appreciation of architecture and understanding of architecture as a reflection of the wider culture.
CADD-1007 - Cad Basics - Urban Planning
Urban and Regional Planning Technology involves the preparation of a broad range of maps and plans for land development and land conservation from a wide range of sources and formats. This course introduces computer aided design and mapping covering drawing, editing and plotting of maps and plans for land based development projects from a planning perspective using AutoCAD.
CADD-1011 - Intermediate AutoCAD - Urban Planning
This course builds on previous manual and computer courses as it studies the sources, formats and use of plans and maps for Urban and Regional Planning. Using computers, students will focus in on the preparation of 2 dimensional plans and use intermediate and advanced tools and commands of AutoCAD. Also the students will learn how to do simple 3D massing projects using Google Sketchup.
CADD-3020 - CAD Applications 2
This advanced course requires students to create 2D plans and 3D renderings for urban planning applications. CAD software is used to prepare technically accurate and complete plans for land development projects and 3D drawings are created and rendered for public presentation purposes. Case studies are used for the basis of assignments that build on previous program course work. Projects will include comprehensive site plans, landscape plans, and building elevations required for land development planning approvals emanating from the Planning Act. Research, site inventory and site analysis components are built into each project such that students gain a comprehensive understanding of the design process.
CADD-3025 - CAD Applications 1
Using the preliminary draft plan completed in Subdivision Design course, students will further refine the plan in the AutoCAD environment and use this digital plan as the basis for a "formal" submission to a professional panel. Students will also create a small "conceptual" residential site plan from the digital draft plan of subdivision combined with the experience learned in Site Planning.
COMM-3023 - Comm. for Designers, Planners, Techs
Professional communication is designed to improve students’ writing, reading, and speaking skills for work-related purposes. Emphasis is placed on process writing, composing, researching, documenting, evaluating, and editing program-related materials. Students also prepare a résumé/cover letter package and deliver an oral presentation based on research.
COMP-1004 - Presentation Graphics
In this course students will study graphic design principles and apply them to a variety of planning related documents. A number of software applications will be utilized to prepare presentations and custom graphics. Students will develop research skills, prepare supporting documents and graphics, and present their findings in an open forum. The key components of a comprehensive portfolio will also be discussed and students will be required to develop their own professional portfolio.
COMP-1041 - Computer Presentation Graphics
In this course students will study and prepare various types of planning related documents. Professional planning reports will be prepared with cover, text and graphics using computers and appropriate software. Students will finalize portfolios in preparation for co-op work term interviews.
COMP-3075 - Mobile GIS & GPS
Geographical features can be mapped electronically using various systems such as total station devices, GPS, digital aerial photography, digital maps and remotely sensed data. All of this data can be transferred to a CAD or GIS product. The students will acquire this data using a GPS device as well as create digital data from aerial photography. This data will be corrected and linked to existing digital data.
LAWS-3017 - Real Property Law
The history and statutes of having title to and interests in real property are explored. Land Registration Systems and various plans of survey, reference and registration are studied leading to a better understanding of developing parcel fabric in G.I.S. data bases.
METH-1001 - Databases for GIS
Basic computer operations and generic applications of database and spread sheet software in Windows environment are studied. Relational database structure and theory and how it relates to GIS is emphasized. An integrated lecture-computer lab learning environment is provided.
METH-1010 - Municipal Government & Planning
The land use planning instruments and processes from the Planning Act of Ontario are studied within the Municipal/Provincial public administrative context. The organizational structure, functions and amalgamations of Municipal Government are examined so as to better understand the needed multi disciplinary approach for comprehensive Municipal Land Use Planning, related government approval agencies, and steps in the land development process.
METH-1035 - Geographical Info Systems 1
This introductory GIS course will cover basic GIS theory and concepts in the lecture portion and provide an introduction to ArcGIS software in the lab portion. A series of lab assignments will cover data views, tables, and layout views, layers, labeling and legends using the ArcGIS software. In the lecture portion the structure of ArcGIS, data acquisition, processing, storage, display and analysis, and the application of GIS to Urban and Rural planning will be covered.
METH-3003 - Data Collection & Research Methods
This course is about knowing, collecting and gathering information that is relevant, accurate and useful to understanding Urban and Rural planning problems and issues. Specifically, sources of information from government, land use surveys, user surveys/questionnaires, population projections, and land supply absorption are studied in a lab/lecture learning environment.
METH-3009 - Geographical Information Systems 4
This project based computer lab course will build on prerequisite GIS courses to study the new directions in GIS theory and in the GIS industry. Topics covered include investigating new software directions, projects in advanced raster GIS, 3D analysis, and a self-directed project.
METH-3013 - Web Based GIS
In this course, students will apply the tools of GIS to business and industry. The students will use a desktop GIS and database software packages to perform analysis in demographics, trade areas, and site selections as part of the course workload.
METH-3015 - Geographical Info Systems 2
This computer lab course will build on prerequisite GIS courses. The major functions of GIS will be studied including data preparation, data transformation, data management, data display and spatial analysis and programming with a GIS. The use of GIS concepts, theories and practical examples will illustrate the significance GIS has in the field of Urban and Regional Planning.
METH-3016 - AutoCAD Map GIS
A course where students learn the fundamental operations of this popular GIS program. Practical examples of problems are used extensively.
METH-5018 - Geographical Info Systems 3
This lecture/computer lab combination intermediate course will build on prerequisite GIS courses. The major functions of GIS spatial analysis will be studied including data acquisition, data processing, data storage, data display and data analysis. The use of GIS concepts, theories and practical examples will illustrate the significance of this major computer software application in Urban and Regional Planning.
PLAN-1004 - Subdivision Design
The methods of subdividing real property according to the Ontario Planning Act are studied. Case projects are used and an actual site is employed for students to learn the research and design skills in preparing a large Draft Plan of a Subdivision and its approval process within a community context.
PLAN-1005 - Ecological Planning
This course will introduce the student to the natural features and natural functions that make up the landscape. Natural features such as wetlands and woodlands are discussed in terms of their characteristics and functions. The natural processes of flooding, erosion, shoreline movement and slope erosion are discussed in the same context. The role and responsibilities of municipalities and resource management agencies in planning for natural features and processes will also be discussed
PLAN-1014 - Site Planning
This course will introduce students to the basic sketching, fundamentals of graphics in design and visual importance of it for urban and regional planning applications. Exercises and studio projects will introduce the drawing techniques; and emphasize the effectiveness of hand drawings to illustrate real land planning and design problems and projects. Site design solutions for various land development projects will be explored and prepared using traditional drafting tools and techniques. Each site plan will be completed to a final draft, within a case study context, using typical design standards and zoning regulations. The legislative basis for municipal Site Plan Control is also included.
PLAN-1015 - Community Planning & Design
This core course comprises three major areas of study, namely: Community Planning, Community Improvement and renewal, and Urban Design. The course builds on all previous Urban and Rural Planning courses, bringing together the research, literature, and planning tools and techniques. It comprises the study of major concepts as sustainability, compact urban form, land resource utilization efficiency, preservation of natural and heritage environments, economic feasibility and in general “how to plan strong liveable communities
PLAN-1016 - Land Use Planning
This is a lecture/discussion course about the fundamentals of planning and design land based development projects within a Municipal land use planning context. The meaning and rationale for land use planning, basic land uses with urban and rural environments, historical perspectives, planning institutions, tools and decision processes, the relationship with transportation planning, and current issues such as sustainable development are studied.
PLAN-3003 - Rural Planning
This course is about conserving rural / agricultural areas and their resources such as food lands, wetlands, and woodlands. The roles of hamlets and villages of agricultural areas are examined. These topics are studied within the context of municipal land use planning such that practical skills will be developed to effectively work in rural municipalities.
WRIT-1036 - Reason & Writing 1-Art & Design
This course will introduce art and design students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. This course will also introduce students to selected topics and concepts in art and design.