Exclusives
FEATURE
Gentrification Reality Tour: Neither Benign nor Benevolent
Claims that the threat of gentrification are grossly exaggerated belie a fundamental misunderstanding of the real threat, the real victims, and the real consequences of inner-city redevelopment.
BLOG POST
Dynamic County Maps 2 (Unfortunate)
Less a cool application and more of an example of the power of information put in the hands of neighborhood groups. The <a href="http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/11180561.htm">Philadelphia Inquirer</a> a month or two back put together this interactive map showing the frequency of shootings in the City (which Charlie's map reminded me of). Illustrated like a topographical map, many neighborhoods reacted quite strongly to the information. The unfortunate trends, represented and placed on the front page, has further inhibited any ability to market specific neighborhoods as improving and/or attractive places to live.
BLOG POST
Why Brazil Is Turning To Open Source Software
BBC reports that government agencies and state-run enterprises in Brazil are <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4602325.stm">switching</a> from Microsoft Windows to open source alternatives. According to a source cited in the story, the primary motivation is economics. The Brazilian government estimates it could save $120m a year by switching and is considering making the use of open source software compulsory for government. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
FEATURE
LucasWorlds: Urban Planning and Design in the Star Wars Epic
What does the architecture of the Star Wars universe represent? Jack Skelley offers an analysis of the various archetypes on display in the latest Star Wars movie.
FEATURE
Overcoming the Comfort of Powerlessness
If we as planners don't do better in defining ourselves, we risk being seen as irrelevant and superfluous, writes Leonardo Vazquez. Do planners assure their own powerlessness by ignoring those in power?
BLOG POST
The Powerful Advantage of Open Source
<img src="http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/06/images/feature_linux.gif" alt="Linux v. Microsoft" align="right" />This article, <a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/06/issue/feature_linux.asp?trk=nl">How Linux Could Overthrow Microsoft</a>, in MIT's <em>Technology Review</em> caught me off-guard.<br /> <br /> The article is a fascinating overview of the open source and proprietary software models. It appears to be well-researched and written, and makes a compelling case for open source:<br /> <br /> <blockquote>...For all its flaws, the open-source model has powerful advantages. The deepest and also most interesting of these advantages is that, to put it grossly, open source takes the bullshit out of software. It severely limits the possibility of proprietary "lock-in"--where users become hostage to the software vendors whose products they buy...</blockquote>
BLOG POST
Bad Data = Hidden Taxes
<img src="http://www.planning.org/leaderbios/images/farmer.gif" alt="Paul Farmer" align="right"/>American Planning AssociationExecutive Director Paul Farmer testifies before the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Federalism and The Census that public investment based on unreliable data and analysis may constitute a hidden tax in the form of higher costs for infrastructure. <br /> <br /> Farmer's <a href="http://www.planning.org/features/pdf/testimony051005.pdf">compelling testimony</a> (PDF, 150KB) is based on his role as CEO of the <a href="http://www.planning.org/">APA</a>
FEATURE
University Expansion and Eminent Domain
Should a University invoke eminent domain in its plans for expansion? If so, what responsibility do developer-universities have to the community?
BLOG POST
Ugly Places on a Pretty Planet
Google's new <a href="http://maps.google.com/">mapping</a> feature is getting a lot of (deserved) attention for its easy access to satellite imagery (thanks to Google's judicious purchase of satellite mapping company <a href="http://www.keyhole.com/">Keyhole</a>). Microsoft tried much the same thing when it set up <a href="http://terraserver.microsoft.com">TerraServer</a>, but Google's version is easier and more fun to use. That probably doesn't surprise you.<br /> <br /> Anyway, here's another cool Google Map application: <a href="http://www.sprol.com">Sprol</a>
BLOG POST
travel log on steroids
One of the best travelogues of pictures i've seen. <a href="http://www.escapelab.com.au/#">Escape Route</a> provides a unique method for organizing and viewing photos. The site also offers dphoto - a kind of ophoto with pizazz. This is one step away from what could be a great application for organizing and documenting change at the scale of a neighborhood, city and region. <br /> <br /> <img src='http://www.planetizen.com/tech/files//escapelab_02_01.jpg' alt='' />
BLOG POST
Need Help Finding Office Space?
<img src='http://www.planetizen.com/tech/files//coolspacelocater.jpg' alt='cool space locater' /><br /> <br /> One of students was kind enough to forward this to me. The <a href="http://www.coolspacelocator.com/index.html">Cool Space Locater</a> is designed to match innovative and creative firms to spaces that may not traditionally appeal to businesses looking for office space. I could have used this in Philadelphia when I really needed office space that wasn't overpriced nor in Center City. The only resource we really had was Craig's list as there are few coordinated resources for finding office spaces for rent - particularly small, non-traditional spaces.
BLOG POST
Interactive municipal broadband legislative map
<img src='http://www.planetizen.com/tech/files//20050503csusmap.gif' align="right" alt='muni map' /> <a href="http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/63145">Broadband Reports</a> reports on CNET's <a href="http://news.com.com/Municipal+broadband+and+wireless+projects+map/2009-1034_3-5690287.html">national map</a> which offers a state-by-state summary of developing fiber or Wi-Fi projects, and the legal barriers states are are facing in implementing these projects.<br /> <br /> From a <a href="http://news.com.com/Cities+brace+for+broadband+war/2009-1034_3-5680305.html">CNET article</a>
FEATURE
Urban Myths
BLOG POST
Technology vs. Traffic
<img src='http://www.planetizen.com/tech/files//indiantrafficjam.jpg' alt='' align="left"/>
BLOG POST
Memory Mapping and Where it Could Take Us…
<img src="http://www.placematters.com/Graphics/Flickr.jpg" alt="Memory Map Example in Flickr" /><br /> <br /> Related to Charles' article about google maps and satellite images…<br /> <br /> The emerging <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/memorymaps/pool/">MemoryMap pool</a> on Flickr, where people annotate maps and photos (frequently taken from google maps) with their memories linked to specific places, takes the Google map service to a new fun level. So why not bring this into the planning process? Maps, <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/antonolsen/8687302/in/pool-memorymaps">like this example here</a>
BLOG POST
Know thy neighborhood
<a href="http://murmurtoronto.ca/">murmur</a> is one of those inexpensive but creative ways of combining technology with space. to me, its exciting to see public art move into this realm - dealing expressly with communications rather than focused solely on physical beautification. potentially so much more than a mural.... <br /> <br /> "[murmur] is an archival audio project that collects and curates stories set in specific Toronto locations. At each of these locations, a [murmur] sign will mark the availability of a story with a telephone number and location code.
BLOG POST
Size Matters
<img src="http://www.planetizen.com/tech/files/20050416-ar-skyscrapers.gif" alt="skyscraper graf" align="right"/>The data's from the real-estate consultancy <a href="http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/sr/">Emporis</a>. Note that these numbers count <em>thousands</em> of 'scrapers. Hong Kong bristles with 'em!<br /> <br /> Says the <a href="http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=3841144">Economist</a>:<br /> <blockquote>Hong Kong has 7,417 skyscrapers, more than any other city, according to Emporis, a firm that tracks the construction of high-rises. By its definition, a building must be over 35 metres tall to qualify as a skyscraper. New York ranks second with 5,444 skyscrapers; Los Angeles has just 450. Chicago's Sears Tower has more floors than any of its rivals, though other skyscrapers are taller.</blockquote>
BLOG POST
Neighborhood Nodes
With all the talk of municipal wireless initiatives, it will be interesting to see what implications (if implemented) these networks will have on individual neighborhoods. As a planner working in a neighborhoods in Philadelphia, how should I assist my clients in best utilizing Philadelphia's wireless to create a stronger fabric between people and place? There are increasing number of community based applications that utilize rather simple technology to create new communication tools between residents.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
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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.
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