Technology

Red-Light Cameras: For Revenue or Safety?

Conflicting opinions have arisen over the use of red-light cameras. But, new evidence may finally put an end to arguments over whether they actually improve safety, or are only effective in increasing revenues.

October 4, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

How Nightlife Drives Innovation in Miami

Miami is as much an industry town as Detroit or Washington D.C. Rather than cars or government, what drives culture (and innovation) in Miami is the city's nightlife scene, explains Emily Badger.

October 3, 2012 - Fast Company

Infographic of the Day: The Many Moods of NYC

Launched in August 2011, Wyst is a social media app that allows users to tag locations in New York City with an emoticon. After a year of collecting data, Wyst has compiled enough info to publish its first Mood Map of NYC.

October 3, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Private Vehicles Become Europe's Newest Form of Public Transportation

Amid widespread economic crisis, and raising environmental awareness, Europeans are embracing ride-sharing services in staggering numbers, reports Eric Pfanner.

October 1, 2012 - The New York Times

The Mad (?) Genius (?) Behind China's Turbo-Prefab Revolution

Lauren Hilgers profiles Zhang Yue, founder and chairman of Broad Sustainable Building (Broad), the Chinese company behind plans to construct the world's tallest building in seven months.

September 28, 2012 - Wired

A New Tool for Those Searching for a Similar Sense of Place

A new program developed by University of Cincinnati Professor Tomasz Stepinski allows users to find sections of the American landscape with similar land coverage or ecological patterns.

September 27, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Chicago's Landmark Merchandise Mart Gets New Life as Tech Hub

As Chicago's River North area continues its transformation, the area's historic, behemoth Merchandise Mart has become a hub for high-tech businesses. The adaptive reuse success story was the largest building in the world when it opened in 1930.

September 27, 2012 - The New York Times

Why Hailing a Taxi May Soon Be Ancient History

Ted Mann explores the new wave of mobile applications changing the way cabs and their customers interact, which could make the act of physically hailing a cab obsolete in as soon as five years.

September 25, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

How the 'Cloud' Precipitates Pollution Across America

In the first article of a series exploring how the physical structures that support the explosion in digital information are effecting the environment, James Glanz examines the wasteful manner in which technology companies consume energy.

September 25, 2012 - The New York Times

Seattle Developer Makes Search for Tenants a Popularity Contest

First rolled out last year to help crowdsource ideas for tenants for the renovation of a 4,250 sf building in Washington, D.C., the website Popularise is getting its first tryout outside the district at a new 13-story office building in Seattle.

September 24, 2012 - Seattle Met

How to Keep a City Running During a Blackout

Dr. Jay Apt offers four cost-effective steps for cities to maintain essential services when the next big blackout hits.

September 21, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

How Much Will a 'Fill-up' Cost for an Electric Car?

With only 50,000 electric cars on the road now, many charging stations are free - but what happens when the number multiplies? Electric car charging companies are counting on the number increasing and are determining "how to charge for the charge."

September 20, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

What Makes a City Smart?

Does a smart city have to pursue sustainability goals? Does it have to utilize the internet to involve citizens? Boyd Cohen tries to put some parameters around the discussion of smart cities - a nebulous term that means many things to many people.

September 20, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Exist

The 50-Foot Commute Takes Off Across America

Jeff Khau examines the rise in the teleworking population and what this demographic shift means for cities.

September 20, 2012 - New Geography

New Tools Promote Civic Engagement

Ben Schiller spotlights the four winners of a competition organized by the National Conference on Citizenship and the Knight Foundation to improve civic health by making civic data "more valuable and accessible to decision makers and the public."

September 19, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Exist

Popular Video Game Makes Planners Out of Schoolchildren

Not heard of Minecraft yet? Than you must not have a 10-year-old child in your house. Luckily, Sarah Goodyear does, and for our benefit, she describes the popular children's video game that explores real-world urban planning ideas.

September 19, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Freight Rail Companies Put the Kibosh on Montreal Commuter Rail Electrification

Two of North America's largest railroads have prevented Montreal from electrifying the city's four commuter rail lines on tracks owned by freight rail. They claim that electrification would pose insurmountable structural problems for freight rail.

September 18, 2012 - The Montreal Gazette

New Car Share Service Demands Parking Privileges

With the possible entry of a fourth car sharing service into San Francisco, Daimler's Car2Go, the MTA must consider exemptions from the city's strict parking policies, specifically on-street parking in residential parking districts and metered zones.

September 17, 2012 - San Francisco Chronicle

NextGen Air Traffic Control Encounters Turbulence

A $37 billion program to modernize America's air traffic control system, and "transform global aviation" is "way behind schedule and over budget," reports Ashley Halsey III.

September 17, 2012 - The Washington Post

Reducing Fuel Consumption: Increase Vehicle Efficiency or Reduce Driving?

NYT Economic Scene columnist Eduardo Porter makes a strong case against the new 54.5 mpg by 2025 fuel efficiency standards, arguing instead for higher gas taxes. Critiquing the piece, Reuter's economics blogger, Felix Salmon calls for both measures.

September 15, 2012 - The New York Times - Business Day

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.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

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