San Diego's Operation Gatekeeper is using innovative technologies to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.
In 1994, "the 66 miles from Imperial Beach, Calif., to the Anza Borrego Desert in the east -- officially designated the San Diego Sector -- was the most vulnerable portion of the U.S. southern international boundary, accounting for nearly one-fourth of all illegal border crossings throughout the Southwest. As illegal traffic climbed to tens of thousands annually, crime rates and property damage in border communities soared, and the quality of life in neighborhoods deteriorated... Today, a fleet of helicopters with forward-looking infrared systems provides continual aerial coverage, and Zodiac boat teams patrol the river and ocean approaches. Special units with vans, bicycles and ATVs and on horseback cover the sector from the heavily populated urban coast to the remote eastern terrain."
Thanks to Government Technology
FULL STORY: High-Tech Borders
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.
Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software
Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.
Oakland to Add 244 New EV Chargers
Oakland plans to launch its new charging network at eight locations by the end of 2025.
Jane Goodall Inspires with Message of Hope, Resilience, and Environmental Action
Speaking in Pasadena, Jane Goodall offered a hopeful and inspirational message, urging global compassion, environmental responsibility, and the power of individual action to shape a better future.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland