ABSTRACT
People of the world engage such activities of life as training and education, production of goods and services, socializing, raising families, and so on. The combinations of people and activities in places define communities. Economic activity sustains communities, cities, metropolitan areas, regions, and nations. An essential element that facilitates human activity is the ability for people and goods to circulate. The facilities and opportunities for circulation define the transportation system. Another essential element of living is shelter. The types, sizes, amenities, and conveniences associated with shelter define housing choices, conditions, and affordability. Human activities, circulation, and housing occur within, affect, and are affected by the environment. How well the conditions of humans meet certain societal norms or standards define quality of life. Chapter 3 therefore identifies information that is readily available about people, the economy, transportation, housing, the environment, and quality of life. Expansion of the sources of planning data on the web has enabled a democratization of access to data. To help planners overcome the challenges of finding the right type of available information in a timely and efficient way, the chapter is designed to help planners navigate the very substantial amount of information that is relevant, reliable, and systematically collected by local and state governments, federal agencies, and professional organizations.
