Technology
L.A. To Test Variable Parking Prices
Los Angeles is planning to undertake a year-long experiment in demand-based pricing on parking in its downtown. The dynamic parking system will be put in place next summer.
Creating Smart Cities and Replicating Silicon Valley
Google CEO Eric Schmidt discusses what makes a city smart and successful in this interview with Foreign Policy.
Commuter RR To 'Double-Deck' To Increase Capacity
More capacity for the same cost is the case with double-decker commuter cars -- if they can fit into tunnels, that is. Bi-level train were once more common in the commuter trains serving NYC. However, these cars can have their own disadvantages.
Why Transit Agencies Should Open Their Data
Streetfilms offers this video about how opening up transit agency data can greatly improve urban public transit systems for riders at little or no cost to the agencies.
Scoring Your Transitability
A new online tool shows people how accessible their homes, neighborhoods, and businesses are to public transit.
Reinventing Government in the Wiki Age
Beth Novick, author of Wiki Government, says that today's technology invites us to "rethink not only our democratic institutions, but our democratic theory."
Enormous Tidal Turbine Launches
The world's largest tidal turbine, designed to create electricity from tidal current, was unveiled in Scotland yesterday. The giant machine will be installed off the coast near Orkney later this summer.
Synchronized Driving
University of Missouri-Kansas City researchers are making headway on "self-synchronizing moving objects" -- that is, getting cars to communicate with each other on highways so they can travel at faster speeds without accidents.
What Cities Can Do to Encourage Electric Cars
Maury Blackman of Accela writes that local governments will have a significant effect on whether electric cars take off or not, because they will be approving and building the necessary infrastructure.
Connecting Coders and Cities
Urban Omnibus talks with Jennifer Pahlka of Code for America, a group looking to get the youth involved in developing computer programs and applications that help improve urban areas.
"Circle Less. Live More": Words To Park By
Explaining the mechanics of market-based parking can be pretty dry, if not outright wonkish. SF Park livens up the topic with (bike) bells, horns and cute, animated graphics in a new video.
The Future Needs of Cities
One of the problems with investing in large infrastructure, and transportation in particular, is that it's difficult to predict the needs of future cities, says Mathias Crawford. If we're all telecommuting, will we need buses?
Michigan Pinning Revitalization Hopes on Batteries
Backed by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Michigan has invested heavily in setting up factories to make batteries for electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt.
A Map of the Present and Future of Lower Manhattan
An online map developed by the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center documents change in New York City, and shows what development and construction is to come over the next eight years.
Artificial Trees Could Be Climate Key
Carbon dioxide is one of the most widespread greenhouse gases produced by humans. Trees can absorb it, but release it when they die. Scientists are looking to build artificial trees to do the job permanently.
Google Earth Reveals Un-Permitted Pools
A town in New York has been using satellite imagery from Google Earth to identify illegally-built pools.
Gadget Census Shows Technology Prefs Differ By Region
A website for technology shoppers conducted a census of sorts and uncovered that different regions prefer different technologies. For example, New Yorkers love iPads but in Massachusetts they prefer Kindles.
Mapping Kenya's Largest Slum
A new project has created a digital map of Kibera, a large slum outside Nairobi, Kenya.
Variable Pricing Parking Meters Unveiled in San Francisco
San Francisco has begun a two-year test of variably-priced parking meters in an effort to see how pricing affects driving and parking decisions in parts of the city.
Performance Parking
In this radio interview, KQED-FM reporter Kitty Felde interviews UCLA professor and parking guru Don Shoup on what he now calls "performance parking", a form of smart parking that includes congestion pricing used in D.C., SF, and soon LA.
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.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
