Shanghai, striving to be the city of the future, begins construction on the world's first commercial railway based on magnetic levitation technology. Will MagLev succeed this time?
"The idea of a maglev train -- floating a centimeter or two in the air on a cushion of electromagnetic repulsion created between superconducting magnets in the train and coils in the guide track, and zipping along at speeds above 200 miles an hour without friction -- has been studied for decades. But the only maglev service ever opened to the public, a link of less than half a mile between the main railway station and the airport in Birmingham, England, was closed in the mid-1990's after 11 years in operation because of maintenance problems.Since then, no government has been willing to underwrite the huge cost of building maglev lines..."
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: Futuristic Shanghai's Risky Bet: Train on Air
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A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure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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