The Military's 'Future First' Planning

The Air Force revamps its strategy for reusing contaminated sites.

1 minute read

March 4, 2004, 1:00 PM PST

"Future first planning was born in 2003 after the environmental staff at Air Combat Command, the war fighting arm of the Air Force, asked the command's Civil Engineer, Brig. Gen. Patrick Burns, to take a look at a newly capped landfill at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. He drove by the site on his way to lunch that day and immediately called his environmental staff. '[Let me get this straight,' he said. "We capped the landfill. We put up large red and white signs every 100 feet around the property saying, 'Do not enter or dig on this site.' And we're proud of that? Come and see me tomorrow to discuss how we could have a future vision for that site before we start to clean it up.' Before you knew it, future first planning emerged and the signs came down."

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Putting the Future First

Wednesday, March 3, 2004 in Planning Magazine

Environment United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.