Exclusives
FEATURE
Did Google Find a Low-Speed Shortcut to Fully Automated Vehicles?
Google's bold new design for a self-driving car has no steering wheel or pedals. And it has a top speed of 40 km/h. Here is a look at Google’s plans and the role low-speed automated vehicles could play in urban transportation.
BLOG POST
Gentrification and High Rents—Not Quite the Same Thing
Public concern about gentrification is based on fears that out-of-control rents are pricing out the middle and lower classes. But rent is rising even in places where gentrification is not happening.
BLOG POST
Tall Tower Debates Could Use Less Dogma, Better Design
When it comes to tall buildings, there's a lot of dogma out there among urbanists, in both directions. Lets spend more time and attention on the quality of tower and neighbourhood design, rather than on how tall the buildings are.
BLOG POST
The Case for Neighborhood Bars...and Why Planning is Like Cooking
Beyond permits and specific plans, urban planning is the creation and facilitation of a user experience, where the neighborhood bar is an essential ingredient to the cohesiveness of a neighborhood.
BLOG POST
Does Beauty Still Matter?
The design of urban landscapes has become dominated by a growing call for them to be ecologically resilient. But isn't it important what they look like?
FEATURE
How Green is My Neighborhood? Let Me Count the Ways
Neighborhood-scale sustainable development is flourishing, as are tools for assessing and certifying the triple bottom line of projects. Ten neighborhood rating tools are reviewed for their best fit for planners, developers, and communities.
BLOG POST
Responding to Transit Funding Criticism
My recent column, "Evaluating Public Transit Funding Options," described various ways to finance public transit improvements. Such funding is sometimes criticized. This column examines and responds to common criticisms.
BLOG POST
New Research: Social Vulnerability Significantly Predicted Storm Damage from Hurricane Ike
Wesley E. Highfield, Walter Gillis Peacock, and Shannon Van Zandt from Texas A&M examine the damage after Hurricane Ike and its relationship to social vulnerability (Available via Open Access, http://goo.gl/K) in a new JPER article.
BLOG POST
The Theory Behind NIMBYism, Part 3
When should a city give neighborhood concerns weight, and when should a state or city create clear-cut rules that limit planners' discretion to consider neighborhood concerns?
BLOG POST
Evaluating Public Transport Funding Options
Many jurisdictions need additional funding to improve, or just maintain, their public transport services. A timely new study evaluates eighteen potential funding options according to eight criteria.
FEATURE
5 Innovative Tech Solutions for Civic Disengagement
Communities have a growing number of technological resources available to face the challenges posed by a growing population and a resource constrained world.
BLOG POST
Planning For More Than Sports
The recent attempts to lure a NFL team to Los Angeles shows how successful site design will depend on the cultural characteristics of the uses of the site as much as it will depend on planning for land use and logistics.
BLOG POST
UN Sustainable Development Goals May Not Include Cities: Act Now!
UN-Habitat is about to decide on Sustainable Development Goals for the next 20 years. The "Urban Goal" is in danger. Please learn more and act.
BLOG POST
New Research Suggests Collaborative Approaches Produce Better Plans
Open Access to Deyle, Robert E., and Ryan E. Wiedenman. "Collaborative Planning by Metropolitan Planning Organizations A Test of Causal Theory."
BLOG POST
Job Sprawl and Commuting Times
Suburbanization has not led to shorter commutes—except perhaps for residents of the most job-rich, affluent suburbs.
BLOG POST
A Critical Evaluation of the USDOT Conditions and Performance Report
The “Status of the Nation’s Highways, Bridges, and Transit: Conditions and Performance, Report To Congress” is intended to provide a comprehensive and objective evaluation of our transportation system. Let’s evaluate this evaluation.
BLOG POST
Lessons from a Groundbreaking Interdisciplinary Design Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati
Niehoff Urban Studio brings students from different departments together to work on bettering Cincinnati's built environment.
BLOG POST
Resiliency Growing Pains
Resiliency is rapidly influencing urban sustainability and hazard mitigation planning. Global Green has identified key questions and findings through Sustainable Neighborhood Assessments in four communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
BLOG POST
HUD Rental Assistance on an Unsustainable Path—What Can Be Done to Save It?
A "Race to the Top" proposal for HUD to help off-set the difficulties of delivering affordable housing in high-priced, high-mobility metros.
FEATURE
Driverless Taxis: the Next Next Big Thing in Urban Transportation?
The idea of cars that would drive themselves has only recently moved from science fiction to reality. In this feature, Antonio Loro explores the feasibility and implications of automated vehicles, especially self-driving taxis.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
