Infrastructure
Poor Building Practices, Infrastructure Worsened Haiti Devastation
CNN reports that a lack of building codes and the construction of vulnerable informal settlements may have contributed to the high death toll in Haiti's earthquake.
The Challenge of Municipal Wi-Fi
This article from Government Technology looks at the idea of municipal Wi-Fi Internet access and why it has struggled to take off.
New Non-Salt Strategies for Snowy Cities
Winter brings snowy conditions to roads in many cities, and many react with snow-melting salt solutions. But the physical and environmental damage of salt is leading some to look for other means of fighting the freeze.
Stimulus-Funded Road Projects' Effect On Unemployment: None
NPR interviews the AP reporter who conducted an analysis of stimulus spending in one particular area - road construction. His finding was that in addition to having no effect on total unemployment, it didn't improve construction employment either.
Dongtan Eco-City: A Model of Sustainability?
Dongtan Eco City was planned for completion for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. By that time, 5,000 people should be living there. However, the planned housing, water taxis, sewage‐recycling plant and energy park all failed to materialize.
States' Water Negotiations Can Be Secret
Negotiations between the states of Georgia, Alabama and Florida can remain secret, according to a recent federal ruling.
Commuting By Escalator
A system of escalators in Hong Kong, installed in 1993 to create a new connection between districts, has become an unusual and popular way to commute Hong Kong's steep streets.
Indonesian High-Speed Rail May Be Too Good to Be True
Private investors are claiming that they can build a $3 billion, 220-mile high speed rail system in Indonesia by the end of 2011. But the plan may be too ambitious to pull off -- or just not a good idea in the first place.
Longest 'Complete Street' Proposed in Oakland
Long-held plans to build a bus rapid transit system connecting Oakland with nearby cities may also result in the creation of what some are calling the longest "complete street" in the state.
London to Open City Data Streams
London is making public more than 200 streams of city data, joining a host of world cities in sharing city-collected data with its citizens.
The Preserved Underground Past of Boston's Subway
A video from The Boston Globe takes a look into the world below the city's subway system.
Bridge Lane Closure Not The Traffic Disaster Many Expected
Almost six months in, the experimental transition of a car lane into a bike lane on a Vancouver bridge has proved to have little if any negative impact on traffic congestion.
SF's Transbay Terminal Project Edges Closer to Groundbreaking
The New York Times looks at plans for the new Transbay Terminal in San Francisco, which could break ground within months.
Learning From India's Ancient Water Engineers
This discussion from TED looks at the ancient water engineering techniques used in the Golden Desert of India, and argues that these centuries-old methods offer lessons for water planners today.
Bureaucratic Structures and the Collapse of Modern Society
Triple Canopy interviews architectural historian Kazys Varnelis about the importance of city data, the difficulty of building new infrastructure and how best to react to a stiflingly complex society.
New Techniques for Preventing Levee Breaches
Breached levees are a major concern for riverside cities; New Orleans struggled with their disastrous results after Hurricane Katrina. While shoring and sandbagging have been relied upon in the past, new methods for stopping breaches are emerging.
Sub-Urban Planning
Triple Canopy translates a Chinese interview with Shu Yu, one of the world's foremost underground urban planners. He talks about the potential of underground space for urban habitation.
The New Bay Bridge, In-Depth
SF Public Press and McSweeney's Panorama newspaper bring a series of in-depth reports on the construction of the new Bay Bridge, focusing on why the project has become so expensive.
Biggest Infrastructure News of the Decade - Part Two
The Infrastructurist finishes its list of the top infrastructure stories from the past decade.
Denver Nudging Locals Towards Electric Cars
This piece from Grist looks at electric-vehicle infrastructure in Denver, which may be a model for other cities looking to encourage the purchase and use of electric vehicles.
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.
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
