Technology

Pokémon Go to Expand its Reach in the Community
The makers of Pokémon Go, touted for its potential to activate sedentary Americans since its release last year, will take more initiative to participate in community-based events.

Elon Musk Elaborates on His Plan for Tunnels Below Los Angeles
Considering it costs $1 billion per mile to dig L.A.'s subway tunnels, how does Elon Musk plan to build a series of car-carrying tunnels with out breaking the bank?

Making the Case for Wooden Buildings
Is mass timber the new frontier in low-carbon building? The National Building Museum's newest exhibition, Timber City, pays homage to the potential of tall timber structures which have strength comparable to steel.

What Will Los Angeles Will Do Next On Housing & Water? Look To Their Neighbors
The cities of Santa Monica, Culver CIty, West Hollywood, and Malibu are championing stormwater infrastructure, new public transit, affordable housing, and action on homelessness prevention.

EVs Not Exempt From California’s Transportation Infrastructure Plan
Governor Jerry Brown and the California Legislature reached a historic agreement to raise the gas tax, but electric vehicle owners will now be required to pay a yearly fee, Will this impact EV sales in the US's best market?

Bridj Comes to a Halt
Bridj's bet that it could, well, bridge ride-hailing and public transit didn't pay off. Lacking new investment, the company is shutting down.

Is this Any Way to Run a Subway?
In New York's subway, stations are not the only historic parts of the 113-year-old system. Essential communications infrastructure responsible for keeping the trains running belongs in a museum, explaining the cause of many recent delays.

Déjà Vu and the Dilemma for Planners
The future, once again, isn't living up to the expectations of planners. How should long-range planning work in a world that is more suburban and more auto-oriented than a generation of planners and urbanists expected?

What Would Delivery Robots Mean for Public Space?
If companies like Startship and Marble get their way, sidewalks will play host to hundreds of rolling delivery bots. It's one solution to "last-mile" logistics, but are pedestrians prepared to give way?
New Fleet of Self-Driving Cars Offer Rides for Families in Phoenix
Alphabet, Inc's self-driving car wing, Waymo, announced a new program offering free rides in self-driving cars to families in Phoenix.

Debating the Role of Amazon Delivery Service in the Future Built Environment
The team at Strong Towns is taking an in-depth look at Amazon, with a week of events, including the point-counterpoint series shared here.

Academic Studies Find Plenty to Like About Pokémon Go
Nearly a year after Pokémon Go and its legion of devout fans hit the streets, researchers are starting to see societal benefits in augmented reality.
Air Quality and Environmental Justice Lead to Push for Zero-Emission Locomotives
The California Air Resources Board has petitioned the U.S. EPA to adopt more stringent emissions standards for locomotives in order to improve air quality at rail yards, many of which are located adjacent to disadvantaged communities.

Hyperloop Delivery Schedule Delayed Again
So far, the Hyperloop's biggest supporters have made a lot of big promises, but continue to fall short on deliverables.

Driverless Van Tests Don't Pencil Out
While it might be easy to convince public officials to sell driverless technology as a flashy solution to mobility deficits—the math still doesn't justify the expense.

Boston's Data-Driven Bus System Makeover
MIT's Transit Lab created a ridership model called Origin Destination Transfer (ODX) that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is using to make incremental changes to the region's bus system.

The Hyperloop Hype Machine
After another big announcement from the realm of futuristic transportation, there's reason to remain skeptical.

More Fuel Cell Vehicles for Lease in 2017
Fuel cell electric vehicles are gaining a following in California, but nowhere else in the U.S. for the simple reason that almost all hydrogen fueling stations are located in the Golden State. Sales, or leases, are expected to jump this year.

Most Americans Say Cities Should be Able to Build Their Own Broadband Networks
It's illegal for local governments to build broadband service in 20 states, and such legislation is spreading.

Mapping to Explain Homelessness in the U.S.
A team at Sasaki has created the "Understanding Homelessness" website, full of interactive features and one particularly helpful data visualization.
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