World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

GIS Mobile App

Top Planning Apps for 2019

Insights into the mobile app technology used in the practice and study of planning.

July 29, 2019 - James Brasuell

United States from Space

Study: It's Not Hard to Connect Anonymous Data to Specific Individuals

People have had to take it on faith that data anoymization was adequate to the task of protecting privacy of individuals. Recent research suggests such faith was misplaced.

July 27, 2019 - CNBC

Coastal City

A 20-Year To-Do List for Cities

Predicting the future of challenges facing cities isn't very hard when the future is already staring cities right in the face.

July 19, 2019 - Meeting of the Minds

Air Travel

French 'EcoTax' Targets Air Travel to Benefit Rail Network

The Minister for Transport called it "part of the answer to climate change" – charging air travelers a modest fee for international trips that originate in France and investing the revenue in greener alternatives such as rail transport.

July 18, 2019 - The Washington Post

Autonomous Vehicles

Self-Driving and Electric Vehicles, Over Promised and Under Delivered

The slow progress of autonomous vehicle and electric vehicle technology in gaining widespread traction in the transportation market is casting doubt on the ambitious statements of a few years prior.

July 17, 2019 - Fast Company

Supermarket Japan

Experiencing the City in the Supermarket

Grocery stores are more than just places to buy food. They’re the universal gateway to city life and culture.

July 16, 2019 - New York Magazine

Tesla

Tesla’s Renewable Energy Vision—Big Benefits Without Major Lifestyle Changes

Tesla’s fancy cars generate much of the company’s revenue, while its solar energy products are decidedly less flashy.

July 16, 2019 - The Verge

Master-Planned Cittes

Master-Planned Cities in the Spotlight

The Guardian last week published a series of articles and interactive features on the subject of the master-planned communities of the world.

July 15, 2019 - The Guardian

London Crowded Street

Reducing Transportation Emissions in the United Kingdom to Net Zero by 2050

Late last month, the UK became the first country to commit to a legally-binding target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. A new academic research group recommends reduced auto ownership, regardless of how they are powered, to meet the target.

July 12, 2019 - BBC News

Suburban Neighborhood

Algorithms Can Design Buildings Now

Introducing "algorithmic space planning." The last word in that phrase shows that planners should take notice of the new technology just as much as architects and engineers.

July 11, 2019 - Architect Magazine

Pop-Up Park

The Surprising Benefit of Pop-Up Parks to Bio-Diversity

A new study finds that interim recreational use of underutilized sections of crowded cities can benefit more than just humans.

July 8, 2019 - Next City

Sequoia State Park

To Solve Climate Change: Plant a Trillion Trees

A new study suggests planting enough trees to cover a landmass the size of the United States.

July 8, 2019 - Associated press via WHYY

Frank Lloyd Wright

8 Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings Named World Heritage Sites

Eight buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright are the first works of U.S. modern architecture to be named UNESCO World heritage sites.

July 8, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Bus Upholstery

'OK Google, How Crowded is the Number 8 Bus?'

Google Maps will now share data about how crowded buses and trains are likely to be.

July 5, 2019 - The Verge

California Wildflowers

Where, and Why, Allergies Are Worst

Your senses (or lack thereof) aren't deceiving you. Some cities really are worse for seasonal allergies than others, and some of the reasons are entirely preventable.

July 3, 2019 - The Guardian

Zurich

The Problem With All Those 'Livability' Rankings

Why is it that smallish cities in western Europe always score so well? Perhaps the underlying assumptions behind ostensibly data-driven "livability" rankings cater to a certain audience and leave most of us out.

July 3, 2019 - CityLab

Flood Damaged Suburb

More Detail on What Happened to 100 Resilient Cities

The Rockefeller Foundation has cited costs and a new strategic direction to explain why it abruptly cut off the program this year. While the work may live on in some form, the move underscores the risks of relying on private funding.

July 2, 2019 - CityLab

Boise Bike Lane

Pop Quiz: Name the City Based on its Cycle Lane Icon

The Guardian has a new pop quiz that will test the knowledge of urban aficionados that tend toward two-wheeled forms of transportation.

June 28, 2019 - The Guardian

Security cameras on a building

The Dangers of Facial Recognition Software

Facial recognition software has the possibility to change public life completely. Countries and cities should be careful to consider the consequences of adopting the technology.

June 26, 2019 - The Guardian

Biology

Saving Habitat: Just as Much for Humans as for Everything Else

Edward O. Wilson, famed for pressing for the conservation of half of the planet's land and oceans, recently turned 90 years old.

June 25, 2019 - National Geographic

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.