Infrastructure

'Fertile Crescent' Doomed by Century's End

Water projects and diversion efforts in Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria are draining the marshlands near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known as the 'Fertile Crescent'.

July 29, 2009 - New Scientist

Builders Vs. Firefighters in National Battle Over Sprinklers

A fierce battle is brewing over new requirements for sprinklers in homes. Firefighters say the sprinklers are needed, but builders say the Sprinkler Code Coalition is having undue influence on code development.

July 28, 2009 - The Center for Public Integrity

Cost Concerns Linger Over Chicago's Olympic Bid

Organizers claim city money won't be needed as Chicago edges closer to securing the 2016 Summer Olympics, but locals are wary about the costs that could fall on them. The recession is exacerbating concerns.

July 28, 2009 - The New York Times

Taking to the Road? More Power to You

Two inventors explain devices that would allow energy to be harvested along highways and from the highways themselves.

July 27, 2009 - The New York Times

Stimulus Funds New Transit Projects, Doesn't Sustain Old Ones

The Obama administration has been touting its dedication of $48.1 billion in stimulus money to roads and transit projects. But it's all going towards new projects, not day-to-day operational needs.

July 25, 2009 - The Nation

Brazil's $42 Billion World Cup Investment

It's going to cost Brazil more than $42 billion in infrastructure costs to host the 2014 soccer World Cup, according to a recent report.

July 24, 2009 - Associated Press

Three Year Deadline to Find New Water for Georgia

The drama over water between Florida, Alabama and Georgia is heating up, as a U.S. District Court ruled recently that Georgia's withdrawals from Lake Lanier are illegal. It's going to have to find a new source of water -- and inter-state cooperation.

July 24, 2009 - Associated Press

Rethinking the Street Space: Why Street Design Matters

Streets aren't just for driving, and cities are starting to realize it. Amber Hawkes and Georgia Sheridan explain why street design matters and where we are today in terms of designing the "street space."

July 23, 2009 - Amber Hawkes

Redesigning the Fire Hydrant

The gush of an uncapped fire hydrant in the summer is a welcome relief for urban dwellers, but the water loss is staggering. Landscape architect Adrienne Cortez decided to find a solution to keeping people cool and similarly activating public space.

July 22, 2009 - Urban Omnibus

Stimulus Projects Bring Delays to Nation's Roads

Thousands of stimulus-funded transportation projects are underway this summer, creating thousands of delays on the nation's roads.

July 22, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Charging Cyclists to Build Bike Infrastructure

Officials in Washington's Clark County are considering a plan to enact an annual fee for bicyclists to fund bike-related infrastructure.

July 22, 2009 - The Columbian

Hanoi 2030

A consortium of consultants has released an ambitious urban development plan for Hanoi City in Vietnam, including an extensive green corridor.

July 22, 2009 - VietNamNet Bridge

Inching Towards Graywater Reuse in Oregon

Legislators in Oregon are making moves to allow residents to reuse graywater.

July 20, 2009 - The Statesman Journal

The Importance of Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure

Pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is a part of transportation, whether some elected officials like it or not. In this piece from Citiwire, Neal Peirce writes that this fact is becoming increasingly clear.

July 19, 2009 - Citiwire

Unearthing Buried Waterways

Cities from San Antonio to Singapore are resuscitating waterways that once lay buried under rivers of concrete.

July 18, 2009 - The New York Times

Congressmen Propose Water Trust Fund

A group of U.S. representatives has proposed the creation of a national trust fund for water infrastructure in the U.S.

July 17, 2009 - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Wayfinding in the City

A review of The Wayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places by David Gibson finds it rich with great ideas for designing new systems, but lacking in ideas for fixing old ones.

July 17, 2009 - re:place Magazine

Soaking Up Runoff For a Greener Street

The city of Santa Monica has just unveiled its first segment of green street, one where rainwater runoff seeps into porous pavement and landscaping.

July 17, 2009 - The Lookout

Making Property Owners Pay for Sidewalks

Los Angeles sidewalks are in an advanced state of disrepair, with little to no funds available. A new proposal in front of the city council puts the burden on new property buyers.

July 16, 2009 - LAist

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.