As cell phones, GPS systems, dashboard computers, and roadside sensors create more accurate traffic reports, the ubiqituous AM radio helicopter traffic report could be a thing of the past.
"...Decades after radio stations put spotters in helicopters, new methods of gathering and disseminating traffic data are emerging, methods that combine roadside sensors, automobile navigation systems, and wireless connections to provide real-time customized traffic information.
"'Charlie in the Chopper is a marketing guy,' said Doug Finlay, chief executive of SpeedInfo. 'He says traffic's heavy on 128.' And you say, 'Boy, am I glad I'm not there.' He's not providing information, but entertainment."
"But WBZ-AM (1030) general manager Ted Jordan said he's not concerned that the new technologies might threaten BZ's 'Traffic on the 3's' franchise, the traffic reports that air every 10 minutes through much of the day."
"As long as I can remember, people have been predicting the end of AM radio," Jordan said. "Television was going to kill it, then FM radio. But AM just kept morphing."
FULL STORY: Traffic reports without choppers
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
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?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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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