Technology

From Ventilators to Ventilation: The Shifting Focus of the Pandemic
Ventilator availability is a major indicator for states in the South and West that are seeing record hospitalizations, but in New York, where Gov. Cuomo announced that New York City had moved to Phase III of reopening, the topic was ventilation.

19 Ways to Redesign the World in the Covid-19 Era
POLITICO Magazine surveyed designers, architects, planners, doctors, psychologists, logisticians, and others, asking them how they would redesign the world for the Covid-19 era and beyond.

New Opportunities for Big Data in Pandemic-Era Urban Planning
Big data startups and corporations are collecting information that can help planners make informed decisions about how to facilitate social distancing. Will planners center data-driven decisions in other planning processes?

Pilot Projects Launched to Test Coordinated Curb Use
Coord, a Sidewalk Labs spinoff, has selected the winners of the inaugural Digital Curb Challenge.

First: Grant Enables Automated Transit Buses in Connecticut
CTtransit will work with Robotic Research LLC, New Flyer of America, and the Center for Transportation and Environment to be the first public transit provider in the United States to operate full-sized, autonomous buses.

GIS Community Brings Maps to the Coronavirus Fight
Data-Smart City Solutions at the Harvard Kennedy School is monitoring the use of GIS technology to inform the public health response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Electric Bikes and Scooters Legalized in New York City
The City Council has legalized electric scooters and bikes. A citywide shared electric scooter pilot program is expected by early 2021.

The Fall of JUMP Bikes
An exposé of the dramatic rise and fall of JUMP bikes under the ownership of Uber, in partnership with cities all over the United States.

Website Predicts Crowds to Inform Social Distancing on Buses and Trains
Know before you go.

Pandemic Data for Planners
The right data will be critical in crafting effective responses to the threats posed by the coronavirus.

The Key to Self-Driving Safety: Priority Over Expediency
Human drivers are fallible. Can automated systems do a better job to reduce the likelihood of car collisions?

North Texas Cities Organize Regional Recovery Efforts
A consortium of cities and regional organizations have created the new nonprofit known as the North Texas Innovation Alliance.

Mobility-as-a-Service Providers Disappear Along With Public Transit During Protests
Mobility-as-a-service companies have disappeared when essential workers needed them most, falling short of their promoted role as gap fillers.

A 21st Century Planning Case Study: Buffalo, New York
Frederick Law Olmsted called Buffalo the best planned city in the United States, but in the second half of the 20th century it transitioned into a prototypical "Rust Belt" city.

Nextdoor Getting Cozy With Local Officials
CityLab investigates the practices of company officials at Nextdoor to cultivate relationships with police and local officials.

Miss the Subway? There's an App for That
The NYC Subway Sounds app is a great tool for dealing with nostalgia for the old ways of life.

New Ideas in Urban Research
Findings from graduating doctoral students undertaking urban-related research.

The Delivery App Revolt
For many Americans living through the social distancing and stay-at-home-orders of 2020, supporting local businesses means cutting out the tech middle man.

Scenario Planning for Pandemic Recovery
The planner who wrote the book on the emerging practice of scenario planning offers advice on how the tool can be helpful in planning for the pandemic.

Unreliable Data, Contract Issues Slow San Diego's Smart Streetlights Program
A public-private partnership between the city of San Diego and GE Current to develop a smart streetlights program started in 2017 has not lived up to expectations three years and $300 million dollars later.
Pagination
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.
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service