Soil often doesn’t get the attention that it deserves, but it is integral to the ecology of cities.

Oliver Milman reports on a frequently overlooked aspect of urban ecology: soil science. Soil scientists say that this thin layer of the planet can provide valuable information about the environmental health of a city, writes Milman:
Taking gallon-sized samples of soil from select spots helps researchers put together a soil map of an area. Layers of soil have differing amounts of sand, silt and clay: some have lots of organic matter, others hold a lot of water. Typically, in cities, the soil is contaminated.
Urban gardening and farming means food is grown in city soil, and soil also filters water and captures pollution, notes Milman. In addition, soil in cities supports trees and plants that in turn provide shade, stabilize wetlands in coastal areas, and help reduce carbon levels.
Milman notes that the NYC Urban Soils Institute hosts the Urban Soils Symposium and works to highlight the importance of soil in urban environments.
FULL STORY: 'We're black sheep': the people who are fascinated by soil in cities

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

How the ‘Direct Vision’ Design Approach Saves Lives
Designing large trucks to ensure better visibility for drivers can reduce fatal crashes and improve workplace safety.

San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park
The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.

Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites
Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.
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.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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