Manual on Urban Planning Chapter I: Introduction

This first chapter of a Manual on Urban Planning describes the reasons for and arrangement of the Manual. The reasons are: to provide the civil engineer in urban planning with a Manual to guide his work; to inform public officials of the value of the civil engineer in planning; to furnish planning students with a useful text; and to make a practical Manual available to others interested in planning. The problems in urban planning and development result from an unprecedented migration of persons from rural to urban areas, the rapid growth of cities, and the need for total environmental planning. The purpose of urban planning, and its environmental, sociological, and economic objectives are set forth. The importance of the civil engineer in solving urban planning problems is established. A description is given of the other nine chapters arranged like the elements of a general urban plan with a closing chapter on the future.