Syllabus - Spring 2013
34:970:662:01 Seminar Urban Planning: Infrastructure Planning
Instructor: Bill Cesanek, AICP
Email: cesanekwe@cdm.com
Telephone: 732-259-5129 (business cell phone)
Class Hours: Tuesday 6:10 to 8:40 pm Room CSB 113
Hours of Availability: I am happy to be available to discuss the course and related issues and areas of
interest, by arrangement. I will be available following class each Wednesday, for up to an hour. Email me or
call to set up a mutually convenient time if you wish to meet outside the Wednesday time.
Course Overview & Objectives
This course on Sustainable Infrastructure Planning will review the range of infrastructure systems that serve
development/urban centers, then we will identify how development creates demands on those systems, and
then explore how infrastructure systems (e.g., energy, transportation, water supply) can be implemented - to
either serve pre-established development patterns or can be planned to provide more sustainable service to
land development.
The course will not focus on solar power or wind power (for example), per se, but will review how “off the
grid” and sustainable infrastructure designs can be implemented as part of the overall mix of infrastructure
systems to provide more efficient and less resource consumptive performance. There are common
“network” aspects of operation of all infrastructure systems that are important to explore, especially as
related to land use issues such as density of development, that form the basis of the course. We will also
explore alternative infrastructure support approaches, and identify how that might provide more sustainable
performance in future and redeveloped cities and communities.
We will explore planning approaches that lead to more sustainable cities and communities, including
approaches involving zoning, infrastructure design, and urban design. We will also explore how the design
and function of infrastructure systems (e.g., water supply, transportation, waste disposal, drainage, energy)
substantially influences the sustainable performance of urban and suburban development. Looking at both
new development, and redevelopment of cities, we will explore the land use factors that affect greenhouse
gas generation, carbon footprint, environmental emissions, social equity, and economic opportunity. Using
case studies, drawn from cities and communities such as Philadelphia, Asheville NC, Singapore, and
elsewhere we will explore how planning more efficient infrastructure systems is essential to realizing
sustainable cities.
We will consider issues such as:
 Why is infrastructure system design a major, perhaps dominating, factor in sustainability?
 How can we assess demand for infrastructure resources, considering that systems to provide water,
energy, and transportation are essential to concentrated human settlement. Is the current level of
resource utilization needed to maintain quality of life?
 Does density of settlement improve sustainable performance of cities and communities? Or does it
concentrate waste products? Or both?
 What is the role of master planning and zoning in creating sustainable infrastructure systems?
Should infrastructure and resource planning precede community master planning, or respond to the
master plan?
 How does urban design influence infrastructure needs and sustainable performance? What is green
infrastructure and how does it contribute to triple-bottom-line sustainability goals?
 The course will survey how the various infrastructure systems influence sustainable outcomes in our
cities, and how planning can dramatically affect sustainable performance of our urban centers.
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Because infrastructure planning is the province of many professional disciplines (including civil engineering,
landscape architecture, and water resource management), we will work to build a common language so that
planners will be able to communicate effectively with other disciplines in creating a vision for sustainable
cities.
Reading Materials for the Course
I anticipate weekly readings, taken from 2 books, and many web sources. Readings will be focused, and to
the point. Reading assignments should be completed in advance of the class for which they are listed on the
schedule. Readings may be added or eliminated as the course progresses; all changes to readings will be
announced at least one week prior to the date that they are due. All materials will be available online; links
and files will be posted to the course website. You will be responsible for all of the course readings in
completing the course writing assignments, whether or not they are discussed in class.
Book title:Infrastructure Sustainability and Design
Author/Editor: Spiro N. Pollalis (Editor), Andreas Georgoulias (Editor), Stephen J. Ramos (Editor), Daniel
Schodek (Editor)
Hardcover: 360 pages
Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 23, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 041589316X
ISBN-13: 978-0415893169
Available on Amazon.com; the and from the publisher
http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415893169/.
Post Carbon Reader, Managing the 21st Century Sustainability Crisis
Richard Heinberg and Daniel Lerch, editors
Articles will be assigned from Web Links
Handouts (miscellaneous)
Lectures
PowerPoint slides and/or lecture notes will be posted to the course website, and available upon request.
Grading/Papers
Generally, the grading will be based on:
 class participation
 three short writing assignments (about 200-300 words/1-2 pages)
 a short (mid-term) paper (5 pages double spaced) and,
 a (final) briefing paper (7-8 pages double spaced)
The mid-term and final paper and presentation should be prepared using readings (50%) and lectures (50%).
Grades
Your grade for this course will be based on the following breakdown:
20%
20%
30%
30%
Class participation
Short writing assignments/Response paper (One page). Four response papers will be assigned.
One mid-term paper (5 pages doubled spaced, not including references)
One final paper presentation and paper (7-8 pages double-spaced, not including references)
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Assignments will be graded from 0 to 100 points. Your final grade will be the result of your total accumulated
average score. Unexcused absence will generally result in deduction of one-half grade level for each class
missed without excuse.
Final grade distribution will be based on weighted averages.
91 to 100
85 to 90
80 to 84
74 to 79
70 to 73
65 to 69
65 or lower
A
B+
B
C+
C
D
F
For written assignments I will be evaluating how you demonstrate an understanding of the infrastructure
system principles, the ideas underlying sustainable infrastructure systems, and your ability to communicate
in oral and written form. Assignments that receive low marks can be redone and resubmitted for higher
grade up to two weeks after they are returned. I will grade all submissions.
All assignments are due as posted, unless otherwise indicated in class. It is important that assignments be
submitted on time. No excuses will be allowed after the fact; only special circumstances approved in
advance, or approved at the time of assignment. Non-excused late assignments, will be graded as normal
when submitted and then reduced in grade 1.5 grade levels after the first late week, two grade levels the
second late week and three grade levels after the third week of lateness has elapsed. No resubmission is
possible after the third late week, and end of semester deadlines override the three week allowance.
Written Assignments
I am happy to provide general feedback on drafts, or discuss ideas for the papers if they are provided to me
at least a week or two weeks prior to the due date. All assignments should be submitted in hard copy at the
beginning of class the day they are due. Formatting should be as follows: 12pt, double spaced, Arial font, 1”
margins, page numbers on the bottom center. The mid-term and final paper should have a cover page
identifying the paper title, author, date, and indicating whether it is the mid-term of final paper.
Academic Integrity
Please review the University’s Academic Integrity Policy at:
http://academicinterfirty.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml
You cannot use someone else’s intellectual property without proper attribution. The school’s academic
integrity policies will be enforced in this course; cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you have any
questions about acceptable academic integrity practices, contact the instructor prior to submitting your work.
Infrastructure Planning Course Schedule
Week One January 22
Theme: Introduction to Sustainable Infrastructure Planning
Content: Introduction, Review of Syllabus, Course content and grading, Student self-introductions; The
Planner and Infrastructure Systems; General Overview of Infrastructure Systems; Relationship to
Professional Planning Practice; Hard vs Soft Infrastructure; Cities of the Future
Reading Assignment(s) for next class:
 Foundation Concepts: Beyond the Limits to Growth http://www.postcarbon.org/reader/downloads)
 Foundation Concepts: Rethinking Resilience
 IS&D: Chapters 1 & 2 (1. Climate Change & Infrastructure; 2. Resource Allocation)
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Week Two January 29
Theme: How Infrastructure Influences Community Planning and Design, and Vice Versa
Content: The Role of Planning in Infrastructure Systems; Defining Sustainability
Reading Assignment(s) for next class: IS&D, Chapters 3 & 4 (Infrastructure and Nature; Quality of Life)
Response Paper - Topic: Describe what you believe a city of the future will look like, and how it will function,
100 years in the future. Due next class
Week Three February 5
Theme: Population and Employment Change, and Infrastructure System Demands
Content: Population & Employment Growth, Demand Estimation for Each Infrastructure System
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Response Paper due
Week Four February 12
Theme: Infrastructure and Networks
Content: Geographic Aspects of Infrastructure Systems, Origins and Demands, Environmental Resources
and Watersheds; Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure; Integrated Infrastructure System Models-Part I
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Week Five February 19
Theme: Water & Sewer Infrastructure – Part I
Content: Water Supply; Wastewater Disposal; Collection & Distribution Systems; Water Resource
Availability; Watershed Mgmt; Water Pollution
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Week Six February 26
Theme: Water & Sewer Infrastructure – Part II
Content: Water Supply; Wastewater Disposal; Collection & Distribution Systems; Water Resource
Availability; Watershed Mgmt; Water Pollution
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Response Paper - Topic: Describe ideas/options for reducing the energy used in sourcing, treating, and
distributing water for drinking and potable use, OR wastewater collection and treatment. Due next class.
Week Seven March 5
Theme: Energy Systems
Content: Carbon Footprint; Relationships to other Infrastructure Systems; Central Role in Sustainability;
Climate Change; Innovative Approaches/Off the Grid; Zoning & Energy
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Response Paper Due
Week Eight March 12
Theme: Transportation Systems
Content: Roads; Transit; Active vs Passive Transportation Networks; Transportation and Urban Form;
Transit Oriented Development; Development Patterns and Transportation; New Forms of Transit
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Finalize mid-term paper topic
Spring Recess (mid-term paper due March 19, 5:00 pm)
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Week Nine March 26
Theme: Smart Growth / Effects of Infrastructure on the Environment
Content: Energy Impacts and Carbon Footprint; Zoning and Form-based Codes; Development Transects;
An Infrastructure Transect?; Environmental Impacts of Infrastructure; Sprawl, Infrastructure, Environment
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Week Ten April 2
Theme: Waste Disposal and Resource Conservation
Content: Solid Waste Generation, Collection & Disposal; Hazardous Waste Generation & Disposal; Landfills,
Noxious Land Uses & Zoning; Resource Conservation & Recycling Systems
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Week Eleven April 9
Theme: Other Infrastructure Systems -- Communications, Food Distribution, Health
Content: Internet; Telephone; Information Delivery Systems, Impact of Internet on Location of Community
and Economic Functions; Food Transport; Community Agriculture; International Food Supply
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
ENVISION assignment
Week Twelve April 16
Theme: Sustainability Metrics
Content: What is Sustainability; Key Performance Indicators; Monitoring Systems; How is Sustainability
Measured?; Triple Bottom Line Analysis; Sustainable Buildings vs Sustainable Urban Form; What Tools Fall
in What Disciplines?; Community Involvement & Infrastructure
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Evaluate Final Paper Topic
Week Thirteen April 23
Theme: Models for Creating Sustainable Future Development
Content: Density & Compact Development; Cities vs Suburban Growth; LEED ND; Eco-Industrial Parks;
Geographic Information System Tools & Models; CommunityViz; Decision Tools (EVAMIX)
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Finalize topic for Final Paper
Response Paper - Topic: Describe how “silo based” infrastructure planning might be improved to become
more cross-disciplinary. What professions should be involved, and when? Due next class.
Week Fourteen April 30
Theme: Integrated Infrastructure System Models, Part II
Content: Urban Systems Models / J Forrester; Sustainable Systems Integration Model; Urban System
Model; INDEX, Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine (SPeAR)
Reading Assignment(s): To be announced in class
Response Paper Due
Week Fifteen May 7
Reading Period – No class
Final Paper Due Friday, May 10, 5:00 pm
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