AICP Functional Areas of Practice 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which functional area involves applying GIS and spatial analysis to identify underserved communities for targeted investment?
- Data analytics in planning
- Community development planning
- Equity planning (Correct answer)
- Land use planning
Correct answer: Equity planning
Equity planning uses spatial analysis tools like GIS to identify disparities and direct resources to underserved communities.
Question 2: A planner preparing a wildfire risk assessment and defensible space guidelines is operating in which functional area?
- Environmental planning
- Natural hazards and emergency planning (Correct answer)
- Land use planning
- Sustainability planning
Correct answer: Natural hazards and emergency planning
Natural hazards and emergency planning addresses wildfire risk through assessments, defensible space regulations, and evacuation planning.
Question 3: Which type of plan is most closely associated with the functional area of economic development planning?
- Comprehensive plan
- Brownfield redevelopment plan (Correct answer)
- Capital improvement program
- Zoning ordinance
Correct answer: Brownfield redevelopment plan
Brownfield redevelopment plans address contaminated sites with strategies to remediate and return them to productive economic use.
Question 4: The Vision Zero initiative, aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities, primarily involves which functional area?
- Public health planning
- Transportation safety planning (Correct answer)
- Emergency management planning
- Urban design
Correct answer: Transportation safety planning
Transportation safety planning encompasses Vision Zero programs that use engineering, education, and enforcement to eliminate traffic deaths.
Question 5: A planner developing a Food System Plan to improve food access in low-income neighborhoods is working in which area?
- Community development planning
- Health and sustainability planning (Correct answer)
- Economic development planning
- Social services planning
Correct answer: Health and sustainability planning
Food system planning sits at the intersection of health and sustainability planning, addressing food access, urban agriculture, and nutrition equity.
Question 6: Which functional area focuses on the design review of new developments to ensure compatibility with surrounding built context?
- Land use planning
- Zoning administration
- Urban design (Correct answer)
- Historic preservation
Correct answer: Urban design
Urban design involves design review processes that evaluate the visual, spatial, and contextual compatibility of new development proposals.
Question 7: A planner coordinating a regional housing needs allocation (RHNA) process is primarily working in which functional area?
- Regional planning
- Housing planning (Correct answer)
- Land use planning
- Community development
Correct answer: Housing planning
RHNA processes are a core tool of housing planning, allocating future housing production targets to jurisdictions within a region.
AICP Functional Areas of Practice 5
Which functional area involves applying GIS and spatial analysis to identify underserved communities for targeted investment?