Technology

Why Your Cell Phone is the Most Promising Transportation Planning Tool

Emily Badger reports on the growing importance of the cellular phone, and particularly their location tracking capabilities, as the next most essential transportation planning tool.

February 6, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Top 8 Facadist Renovations, from Melbourne to Bucharest

Facadism is often criticized for its awkward juxtapositions, but here are eight of the nicest facadist renovations from around the world, according to Stephen Smith.

February 4, 2012 - International Business Times

Thinking About Sustainability on a Global Scale

In an opinion piece, noted economist Jeffrey Sachs explores what it will take to achieve the 'triple bottom line' of sustainable development, which the UN puts at the top of the global agenda.

February 1, 2012 - Project Syndicate

Sidestepping Zoning to Build Green in NYC

Even in New York City, it's a pain to try to "green" a building with insulation, overhangs, and other methods that violate zoning. Katharine Jose reports on the Zone Green Text Amendment, which addresses such impediments, and the team behind it.

January 31, 2012 - Capital New York

California Passes Historic Zero Emission Vehicle Regulations

The CA Air Resources Board unanimously approved new rules that require 15% of new vehicles sold in the state to emit zero emissions and require conventional vehicles to reduce smog and climate emissions by 75% and 50%, respectively, by 2025.

January 30, 2012 - San Jose Mercury News

There are 4,114 Intersections in LA, and He Controls Them All

Jon Bruner profiles Los Angeles Department of Transportation Engineer Edward Yu, and the ATSAC system run by Yu and his team, which controls the timing of traffic lights at each of the city's 4,114 intersections.

January 27, 2012 - Forbes

Smarter Transit Routes Through Twitter?

John Pavlus reports on Eric Fischer's use of Twitter's geotagging feature to map the most highly trafficked thoroughfares in several cities. The results are fascinating, and beautiful.

January 25, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Design

Younger Auto Consumers Boost Hybrid Vehicle Demand

A new survey provided some good news for the alternative technology sector of the auto market: younger consumers prefer hybrids and other electrified vehicles over conventional vehicles, especially fuel-inefficient ones.

January 25, 2012 - Bloomberg News

Zappos Founder "Trades Shoes for Urban Planning"

Zappos founder Tony Hsieh and his team went from designing a new campus to an entirely new collaborative city in downtown Las Vegas for Zappos employees and other emerging members of the creative class.

January 23, 2012 - CNN Money - Fortune Tech

Google Fiber Work Hung Up In Kansas City

With much fanfare, Kansas City was selected in 2011 as the launching site for Google's experimental fast fiber-optic network. Now, a dispute about how and where to run fiber optic lines on poles in the city is causing significant delays.

January 21, 2012 - The Kansas City Star

The "Avoid Ghetto" Walking App

At least that's what some are accusing Microsoft of patenting in its "Pedestrian Route Production" app, whose aim is to help pedestrians avoid unsafe neighborhoods "by taking information from maps, weather reports, crime statistics and demographics."

January 20, 2012 - NPR

Nation's Largest Net-Zero Mixed Use Project Planned for Philadelphia

Branden Klayko reports on the pioneering project planned by innovative Philadelphia design-build developers Onion Flats.

January 20, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

Empowering Civic Engagement

Tools for civic engagement -- there's an app for that. The Knight Foundation announces Engagement Commons, a comprehensive catalogue of civic engagement software.

January 17, 2012 - Knight Blog

Detroit Auto Show Highlights New EVs - But Where Are The Buyers?

The EPA's new fuel efficiency standards have auto makers scrambling to produce electric and hybrid vehicles, but the higher prices of these vehicles deter buyers.

January 17, 2012 - The New York Times

Thinking About Your City as A Startup

An increasing number of cities, often led by entrepreneurial mayors, are thinking and acting like startups. The qualities that make a startup company and a city successful, are "remarkably similar".

January 16, 2012 - Tech Cruch

Your Prius Won't Save You

In his new book, The Conundrum, David Owen pierces the magical thinking that has repackaged high-end luxury goods, such as hybrid cars, as virtuous and the idea that we can consume our way out of trouble.

January 14, 2012 - Txchnologist.com

Enough Supertrains--China Needs To Fix The System

Super-fast, beautifully-designed trains are the all the rage again in China, but safety, pricing, and technology concerns now need to be bumped to country's rail priority list to make it work.

January 13, 2012 - The Economist

NYC Diversifies With Tech Sector

"Look out, Silicon Valley"-- A decades-long effort to bring technology-based firms to New York City is beginning to see a payoff, according to this piece from The Economist.

January 11, 2012 - The Economist

A 'Smart Cities' Technology Revolution Underway

A group of high technology firms, led by IBM and Cisco, are plunging into the city management business to offer super-efficient new-generation computerized information and control systems.

January 9, 2012 - Citistates Group

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.