World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

Sustainability Solutions in the City

This piece from the Guardian looks at a handful of projects and ideas that are emphasizing the importance of sustainable metropolitan areas in an age of diminishing resources and environmental devastation.

September 17, 2009 - Guardian

The Two Paths to Sustainability

Achieving sustainability can take one of two paths, according to Richard Carson: centralized or decentralized policy. Choosing one will be crucial.

September 16, 2009 - ArchNewsNow

Le Corbusier for Kids

A new picture book introduces the architecture and urban ideas of Le Corbusier to children.

September 16, 2009 - Arcspace

Watching Where the Water Goes

Monitoring how much water is diverted from rivers and pumped from wells is notoriously difficult. But now, researchers have developed a new way to track usage.

September 15, 2009 - The Washington Post

Are Bike Lanes Less Safe?

A new study from the University of Leeds claims that drivers are more careful and leave more room for bikers when there is no bike lane.

September 14, 2009 - WorldChanging

Inside David Byrne's Livable City

Using a mishmash of highlights from cities around the world, musician and artist David Byrne talks about his personal vision of a perfect, livable city.

September 14, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Friday Funny: Suburban Fantasies

With names like Aspen Grove and Sunrise Park, you might mistake these suburb designs for the real thing. But something's not quite right in artist Ross Racine's birds-eye views of imaginary suburbs.

September 11, 2009 - The Infrastructurist

Tapping Outside Experience to Build U.S. High Speed Rail

As the race for high speed rail stimulus dollars gets underway, international firms stand to gain the most benefit as few if any U.S. firms are capable of building the rolling stock the new systems will need.

September 10, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

The City Planner Behind 9/11

Mohamed Atta, one of the 9/11 terrorists, pursued a masters degree in city planning before the attacks. Slate's Daniel Brooks reads Atta's masters thesis, and finds a strain of anti-Western modernism that is revealing.

September 9, 2009 - Slate.com

Become an Unscrupulous Developer, Virtually

Monopoly: City Streets melds the board game with Google Maps gives you the chance to buy the world's streets and develop your dream project on them (in competition with other players, of course.)

September 9, 2009 - The Guardian U.K.

More Renewable Energy = More Acreage

As the push for renewable energy increases, The Nature Conservancy points out that renewables need a lot of land to work and could cause "energy sprawl."

September 9, 2009 - Renewable Energy World

U.S. Oil Consumption On The Decline...Permanently

For political, technological, and even demographic as well as economic reasons, don't expect American oil consumption to increase over 2007 levels. $3 gas is here to stay, and the days of the petrol-gulping SUVs and guzzlers may be numbered.

September 8, 2009 - Barrons

Planning City Love

This week's episode of Smart City features a discussion with planner Larry Beasley about how love can be an economic driver for cities, and how planning around emotions can improve cities.

September 6, 2009 - Smart City

Is the Local Food Movement Misguided?

Eating local is in vogue, as the environmental impacts of industrialized agriculture surface. But is eating local really the right response? One author says maybe not.

September 6, 2009 - Forbes

Digital Experiences in Public Spaces On the Rise

The rise of smart mobile technology is increasing the demand for digital interactivity in public spaces. Marketers and artists are obliging.

September 5, 2009 - Advertising Age

The Dangers of Mega-Events

2010 will bring with it a series of huge international events -- the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the World Cup in South Africa and the World Expo in Shanghai. Though seen as major opportunities for their hosts, these events can also be dangerous.

September 5, 2009 - Next American City

Rising Wealth and the Emergence of New Global Cities

New world cities are emerging, and the "first truly urban century" will be shaped by the way increasing wealth is handled in places like Mumbai, Bangalore, Shanghai, Beijing, Sao Paulo and Dubai.

September 4, 2009 - Forbes

Stopping Sprawl Won't Happen Soon Enough to Fight Global Warming

Policies that encourage density as a way to reduce carbon emissions won't be able to play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions in time to counteract global warming, according to a new report from the National Academy of Sciences.

September 3, 2009 - Technology Review

The City of the 21st Century

Shanghai could be them model city of the future, according to a new exhibit.

September 3, 2009 - e-Oculus

Room for Improvement in Prospective Olympic Host Cities

A new report from the International Olympic Committee has evaluated the four host candidates for the 2016 Summer Olympics and found many places for improvement ahead of its October 2 decision.

September 3, 2009 - The Chicago Tribune

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.