Technology

Advanced Traffic Data Deleted After Days

Los Angeles has one of the world's most advanced traffic detection systems, enabling it to manipulate traffic signals on the fly by using real-time data. But This data is saved for only a few days, limiting the extensive data's long-term use.

October 2, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Why Municipal Wi-Fi Projects Fail

Why many cities attempts to create city-wide wireless networks have failed....and why some cities have been successful.

October 1, 2007 - Slate

Carbon Control From The Sea

World-renowned environment experts have proposed a system of huge tubes placed in the world's oceans that would cycle nutrients to encourage booms in the population of algae -- organisms that naturally consume and sequester carbon.

September 28, 2007 - The Guardian

Pay As You Drive (PAYD) System Test Gets Go Ahead

In six states, test runs will assess public attitudes and acceptance of road taxation systems that ditch gas taxes and charge drivers based on how many miles they drive.

September 23, 2007 - USA Today

How Experiences In The Virtual World Can Improve Real Life

In this column, urban planning professor Justin Hollander asserts that online games such as “Second Life” have the potential to enable genuine public participation in civic affairs.

September 20, 2007 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

World's Financial Centers Thrive Despite Tech Boom

Predictions that our high-tech age of connectivity and wire-free communications would drain big cities, the world's financial centers remain heavily populated and their economies are thriving.

September 16, 2007 - The Economist

Municipal Wi-Fi Networks: Easier Said Than Done

After a flurry of announcements regarding blanketing cities with free Internet access, the actual forecast for these wireless networks looks rather bleak.

September 15, 2007 - The Economist

San Francisco Buses May Nab Double-Parkers

Motorists beware - if you double-park in a transit-only lane in San Francisco next year, that bus behind you could take your photo resulting in a $250 citation, if AB 101 is signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

September 14, 2007 - The Examiner

Rural Kentucky Gets Connected

The rural communities of Kentucky are wiring up, and a statewide effort to convince rural residents of the benefits of internet access expects nearly 98% of the state to have internet access by the end of the year.

September 14, 2007 - The Economist

Wi-Fi Flops In Big Cities, Thrives In Smaller Communities

Over the summer, plans fell through on a number of major municipal Wi-Fi projects in major American cities, such as Chicago and Houston. But these networks are thriving in smaller communities around the country.

September 13, 2007 - The Christian Science Monitor

Planned Car Elevator Preserves Historic Facade In Condo Conversion

A high-tech elevator for cars is being considered as a way to save space in a condo conversion planned in Charlotte, North Carolina. The elevator will also help preserve the historic building's facade.

September 13, 2007 - The Charlotte Observer

Real-Time Online Map Shows Rome In Motion

The city of Rome recently launched a dynamic mapping project that utilizes cell phones and GPS devices to display the city's flow of traffic and pedestrians on a publicly accessible website.

September 11, 2007 - Discovery

Becoming America's Most Sustainable City

U.S. cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, and Sacramento are becoming more energy efficient in an effort to attain the title of the nation's greenest city.

September 6, 2007 - The Sacramento Bee

High Costs Unravel Citywide Wi-Fi Plans

Cities reconsider the economics behind free citywide Wi-Fi networks. Plans have already fallen through in Chicago and San Francisco, and more are expected to follow.

September 2, 2007 - The Detroit Free Press

Traffic Signals That Predict And Prevent Crashes

High-tech traffic signals have been developed that predict and warn drivers of possible collisions.

September 2, 2007 - Discovery

Balancing History And High Tech

Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, has been widely celebrated in recent years as one of the most historic and, at the same time, most thoroughly high-tech cities in Eastern Europe.

August 30, 2007 - Der Spiegel

The Automated Future Of Transportation

Cars and shipping will all be controlled automatically and traffic jams will be a thing of the past, according to a new book that posits a futuristic transit system within 50 years.

August 28, 2007 - The Observer via Guardian Unlimited

An Introduction To Green Roofs

This article from Ecogeek offers an introduction to green roofs, and shares pictures of some existing green roofs and some ambitious projects in the works.

August 22, 2007 - Ecogeek

The Traffic Jam Forecast

Traffic sensors on Germany's Autobahn enable researchers to predict traffic jams a day in advance -- with surprising accuracy.

August 20, 2007 - Der Spiegel

The Internet And The Future Of The Road

High technology and the Internet will have an increasingly broad impact on the way our cities and communities deal with transportation, traffic, and mobility, according to commentator John M. Eger.

August 9, 2007 - Government Technology

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.