From Infrastructure to Implications: Data Center 101 for Urban Planners

February 2026

By: University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Xiaofan Liang

https://www.xiaofanliang.com/publication/DataCenterVis/DataCenter101.pdf
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Data Centers

This guide examines the impacts of data centers through their infrastructure components. The guide begins with an explanation of the different types of data centers and their various components before assessing the effects on energy, water, land use, quality of life, economy, and environment.