Piloting GenAI and GeoAI Curriculum for Urban Planning and Environmental Design Students

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries worldwide, yet AI literacy remains significantly underdeveloped, particularly in fields like urban planning and design. While the influence of GenAI and GeoAI is expanding across academic disciplines and programs, a noticeable gap exists in the literature regarding how urban planning and design education can effectively integrate these technologies. Historically, urban planning has been cautious about embracing new technologies, largely due to the inherent complexity of both the field and the urban systems it seeks to shape. However, GenAI and GeoAI hold immense potential to enhance planning and design practices by enabling more informed decision-making. It is essential to equip students with the skills and confidence to engage critically and creatively with these tools. This paper addresses the current educational shortfall by proposing course structures and pedagogical strategies that lay the groundwork for GenAI and GeoAI integration in planning curricula. By doing so, we aim to empower students, especially those who have traditionally struggled with or distrusted advanced technologies, to overcome barriers in data collection and analysis. Ultimately, this framework fosters not only technical proficiency but also a more open and innovative mindset toward the role of technology in shaping the development and growth of cities.