Technology

Bitcoin Mining Operations Set Up in Washington State

The computing power required to mine bitcoins has drawn companies to Washington for the state's cheap, hydroelectric generated power.

May 25, 2014 - Gizmodo

Will Driverless Cars Spell Doom for Law Enforcement Budgets?

What happens to law-enforcement budget (and, for that matter, municipal budgets) in a future of law-abiding driverless cars?

May 24, 2014 - Network World

Special Delivery: Housing Data Provided by the United States Postal Service

If you're looking for more data on housing in the United States, a dataset produced by the United States Postal Service has many advantages.

May 24, 2014 - CityLab

Amsterdam Electric Car

An Electric Car the CEO Doesn't Want You to Buy

Please, don't buy the Fiat 500 E, stated Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne during his presentation on a Brookings panel on May 20. It's not because it's a bad car—it's because his company loses $14,000 on every sale.

May 23, 2014 - The Detroit News

First State Legislature to Regulate Uber and Lyft: Colorado

Ivan Moreno reports for the Associated Press on the Colorado Legislature's approval of a bill to regulate transportation network companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar.

May 21, 2014 - AP via Denver Post

Location as Currency: Mapping Apps Will Optimize Indoor Navigation

"Location is the new cookie," says Simon Thompson of Esri, referencing the software in a browser that tracks the websites people visit. Meet the new apps making it happen.

May 21, 2014 - New York Times

Civic Engagement

5 Innovative Tech Solutions for Civic Disengagement

Communities have a growing number of technological resources available to face the challenges posed by a growing population and a resource constrained world.

May 20, 2014 - Tom Spengler

Kerfluffle Over Green Building Rating Systems

The latest dust up over green building rating systems, especially their efficacy relative to each other, highlights the danger of mixing the ideals of environmentalism with the self-interest of running an environmentalist organization.

May 20, 2014 - Ecobuilding Pulse

The Cambridge Tree Map Provides Data on Blossoms and Pollen

"What does a city look like drawn in trees?" Cambridge, Massachusetts recently released an exhaustive database of all the trees on public property around the city.

May 20, 2014 - The Boston Globe

Dispersing Transit Commutes with Financial Incentives and Data

Urban Engines uses real-time transit data, and raffles, to encourage transit riders to commute during non-peak hours.

May 18, 2014 - CityLab

Texas Outpaces California in Promoting Alternative-Fuel Vehicles

In the state of Big Oil, all types of electric cars, propane, and natural gas fueled vehicles qualify for a $2,500 cash incentive, thanks to a bill passed last year that broadens the current alternative-fueled truck program to light duty vehicles.

May 17, 2014 - Fuel Fix

The set of the television show Sesame Street

Measuring Urban Design's Impact on Our Brains

Columbia University's Cloud Lab aims to measure participants' brainwaves and figure out their state of mind of as they experience their surroundings.

May 17, 2014 - CityLab

How to Set Up a Real-Time Traffic Display in the Office (or at Home)

A post on the iStrategyLabs website describes some of the software and hardware requirements for building signs that display the arrival and departure of transit in your area.

May 16, 2014 - iStrategyLabs

Stalled Legislation in Missouri Would Block Tesla Sales

Republican lawmakers in Missouri drafted legislation to prevent Tesla from establishing its direct sales model in the state. The legislation, now considered dead for the remainder of the legislative session, was backed by an auto dealers' group.

May 15, 2014 - PoliticMo

Interfacing Urban Intelligence

Shannon Mattern argues that as we enter the era of so-called “smart” cities, we need to consider the point of engagement where citizens interface with the city’s operating system.

May 11, 2014 - Places Journal

For Sale: Data on 90 Million Bike Rides and 20 Million Runs

The same week that the New York Police Department released a boat load of data about traffic collisions comes news that exercise app Strava will sell its data on the how, where, and when bikers and runners use streets.

May 9, 2014 - Wall Street Journal - Digits

Mobile Version of Google Maps Releases New Features

The popularity of Google Maps is well-documented, and as more users are using the software on their phones (remember when you had to print maps before you left your home or office?), Google's recent updates includes a bunch of new mobile features.

May 8, 2014 - Gizmodo

Comprehensive Crash Data for New York City Released Online

In a big victory for safe streets, New York City has released to the public an online database of crash data for the city. Previously, poor and incomplete data made creating safe streets "next to impossible."

May 8, 2014 - WNYC: Transportation Nation

New App Would Auction Public Parking Spaces

The MonkeyParking app works similarly to sharing economy stars Airbnb or Uber, except for sale is an inside line on parking spaces. That means that private users would be auctioning the use of public space. That can't be legal, can it?

May 7, 2014 - Uptown Almanac

Google Self-Driving Car

Driverless Taxis: the Next Next Big Thing in Urban Transportation?

The idea of cars that would drive themselves has only recently moved from science fiction to reality. In this feature, Antonio Loro explores the feasibility and implications of automated vehicles, especially self-driving taxis.

May 6, 2014 - Antonio Loro

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.

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