Selecting a Research Problem in Urban Planning

Urban planning is the comprehensive process of developing and managing land use, infrastructure, and the built environment to improve the quality of life for urban residents and ensure sustainable development. It is a multidisciplinary field that involves creating spatial plans for cities, balancing economic growth, social equity, and environmental considerations to build resilient and functional urban areas. 

Selecting a research problem in urban planning for a thesis is one of the most crucial steps because it determines the direction, relevance, and overall quality of your work. A well-defined problem ensures that your research contributes meaningfully to the discipline, aligns with your interests, and has practical applicability. Below are detailed guidelines to help you systematically select a suitable research problem:

1. Identify Your Area of Interest

  • Self-reflection: Think about which sub-field excites you most—transportation planning, land use, housing, TOD (Transit-Oriented Development), environmental planning, resilience, smart cities, governance, etc.
  • Past exposure: Review your coursework, internships, and projects to see which topics you enjoyed and where you performed well.
  • Sustainability of interest: Since a thesis is a long-term project, ensure the topic is something you can stay motivated about.

2. Review Existing Literature

  • Survey journals and books: Look into reputed sources such as Journal of Urban Planning and Development (ASCE), Transport Policy, Habitat International, etc.
  • Identify gaps: Check where existing studies lack—geographical gaps (e.g., limited studies in Indian or Global South context), methodological gaps (e.g., limited use of advanced modelling), or thematic gaps (e.g., underexplored areas like informal transit, active mobility).
  • Track current debates: Identify emerging themes like climate-resilient cities, equity in transport, gender and mobility, AI in urban planning, or post-COVID mobility trends.

3. Relevance to Local Context

  • Urban planning problems are place-specific. Select an issue that is relevant to your city, state, or country. For example:
    • In Delhi: first–last mile connectivity, TOD effectiveness, informal housing, air quality, urban flooding.
    • In tier-2 cities: rapid urbanisation, peri-urban growth, infrastructure deficits.
  • This ensures your thesis is not only academically rigorous but also socially impactful.

4. Practicality and Feasibility

  • Data availability: Consider whether you can access data (primary surveys, government databases, GIS datasets, remote sensing, etc.).
  • Time constraints: Make sure the research can be realistically completed within your thesis timeline.
  • Resource availability: Check whether you have the technical tools (software like ArcGIS, SPSS, R, Python, SmartPLS) and guidance to carry out the research.
  • Field access: Ensure you can conduct site visits, interviews, or surveys safely and practically.

5. Alignment with Research Objectives

  • A good problem should lead to clear objectives (e.g., evaluating TOD’s influence on mode choice, assessing green building adoption, analysing resilience strategies for flood-prone urban areas).
  • Frame research questions that are:
    • Specific – clearly state the issue.
    • Measurable – based on data or empirical evidence.
    • Relevant – aligned with urban planning principles and societal needs.
    • Achievable – feasible within available resources and time.
    • Time-bound – can be addressed within your program’s duration.

6. Contribution to Knowledge and Practice

  • The problem should add something new to urban planning theory, policy, or practice:
    • Theoretical contribution: Enhancing or testing an existing framework (e.g., TOD 8Ds, accessibility measures).
    • Methodological contribution: Introducing new models (e.g., SEM, MCDM, agent-based modelling).
    • Practical contribution: Providing solutions for urban policymakers and planners.
  • Always ask: “Who will benefit from my research?”—academia, government agencies, urban residents, or specific groups like women, cyclists, or low-income communities.

7. Scoping the Research

  • Avoid problems that are too broad (e.g., “Urban transport in India”) or too narrow (e.g., “Effect of streetlight color on pedestrian flow in one lane”).
  • Define a scope that is:
    • Manageable in size (e.g., one neighborhood, one transport corridor).
    • Rich enough for analysis (enables both quantitative and qualitative dimensions).
  • Ensure your problem allows you to apply urban planning tools and frameworks rather than just descriptive reporting.

8. Policy and Societal Relevance

  • Link the research to ongoing policies, programs, or SDGs:
    • Smart Cities Mission
    • AMRUT
    • National TOD Policy
    • Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)
    • National Urban Transport Policy
  • This alignment ensures your thesis outcomes can influence real-world decision-making.

9. Discussion with Advisors and Experts

  • Discuss potential problems with faculty, mentors, and professionals. They can:
    • Highlight feasibility issues.
    • Suggest refined angles.
    • Provide access to networks and data sources.

10. Refining and Formulating the Problem Statement

  • Once a topic is identified, write a problem statement that includes:
    • Context: Background and why the problem matters.
    • Gap: What existing research lacks.
    • Objective: What you intend to achieve.
    • Justification: Why it is important for urban planning and society.

✅ Checklist for Selecting a Research Problem

  • Is it aligned with your interest?
  • Is it relevant to urban planning discipline?
  • Does it address a real-world/local issue?
  • Is it feasible with available data, time, and resources?
  • Does it contribute to knowledge or practice?
  • Is it clear, specific, and researchable?