The Black Cloud: Using Games to Understand Air Quality

4 September 2008 - 5:00am
Human behavior and land use affect air quality, and those effects are very distinct at the local level. A new environmental game fusing public participation, air quality sensors and web technology shows how.

The Planetizen News Brief

4 September 2008 - 5:00am

4:40 minutes (4.33 MB)

A weekly rundown of some of the most interesting and important news and issues, airing every week on the nationally-syndicated radio program "Smart City". Read, download or listen to this week's News Brief, which looks at the U.S. leaning towards high speed rail, rebirth in Atlanta's industrial areas, and the discovery of ancient cities in the Amazon.

The Anti-Zoning Attitude of Palin's Hometown

6 September 2008 - 1:00pm
The Christian Science Monitor
VP hopeful Sarah Palin's hometown of Wasilla, Alaska is proud of its anti-government attitude and anything goes climate for building and planning.

Shipping Sickness

6 September 2008 - 11:00am
AlterNet
The enormous traffic in imported goods is generating a huge amount of disease-causing pollution in and around ports, and along trade routes.

Best Cities for Singles

6 September 2008 - 9:00am
Forbes
Forbes keeps churning out the Top 10 Cities lists- this time looking at the best cities for single people.

Fighting for Height

6 September 2008 - 7:00am
bd
Architect Richard Murphy's masterplan for Edinburgh's Haymarket is facing complaints about the height of the hotel. Murphy says, 'Our hotel will breach the skyline, and a jolly good thing too.'

Is New Urbanism 'Antiseptic'?

6 September 2008 - 5:00am
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Columnist Michael Paul Williams of the Times-Dispatch worries that the planned New Urbanist development in Roseland, VA will turn out to be 'as antiseptic as a theme park."

Friday Funny: Masking the Smells of Public Transit

5 September 2008 - 2:00pm
Der Spiegel
Stinky trains may become a thing of the past in Berlin, where officials are sniff-testing new fragrances to mask the odors of public transit.

New England's Football Mall

5 September 2008 - 1:00pm
NPR
Football and shopping become one in New England, where the owner of the New England Patriots NFL team has built a $300 million mall and entertainment complex next to the stadium.

Red/Blue = Rural/Urban?

5 September 2008 - 12:00pm
Globe and Mail
The discourse in the current presidential election appears to be pitting rural -- and presumably conservative -- Americans against urban liberals.

Railroad at the Top of the World

5 September 2008 - 11:00am
Globe and Mail
On Canada's arctic Baffin Island, engineers are preparing to construct the world's most northerly railway, a 143 kilometer line across permafrost to transport iron ore to Europe.

Can 'Green' Cement Eliminate C02?

5 September 2008 - 10:00am
San Francisco Chronicle
Cement production is notorious for generating large amounts of C02. Now a Stanford professor claims to have developed a new process that will eliminate the problem.

Small Wind Turbines Become Popular, But Experts Question Their Value

5 September 2008 - 9:00am
The New York Times
Small wind turbines have been installed around the country, from Logan Airport in Boston to rooftops in New York and California. But many wonder if the turbines generate enough electricity to make economic sense, especially in urban areas.

Smart Growth Isn't Smart Without Transit

5 September 2008 - 8:00am
Beyond Chron
California's SB 375 could have a big impact on the way the state grows, but without more funding for public transit, any gains would be offset by continued congestion and traffic problems.

Big Density Plans for Toronto

5 September 2008 - 7:00am
The Globe and Mail
Toronto is considering a broad new plan to encourage higher density.

Garbage Day Never Comes for Naples

5 September 2008 - 6:00am
Los Angeles Times
Corrupt and inconsistent mob-controlled garbage collection in Naples, Italy, has left the city swimming in uncollected trash and with little hope of a resolution.

Architecture Degrees Gaining Popularity

5 September 2008 - 5:00am
bd
The U.K. is seeing a significant leap in students applying for architecture degrees, possibly due to the rise in interest in sustainability around the world. Some worry that growing programs could impact the quality of education.

Foreclosures Gone Wild

4 September 2008 - 2:00pm
The Press-Enterprise
A foreclosed home in Lake Elsinore, CA has attracted some new residents- a family of bobcats.

The Mall Comes to India

4 September 2008 - 1:00pm
LiveMint.com
Malls are a newcomer to India, but designs that incorporate elements of the Indian marketplace are a hit.

CA Senate Approves HOT Lane Legislation

4 September 2008 - 12:00pm
LA Times
The CA Senate voted to approve the HOT lane/transit investment plan of the LA MTA for two freeways, making LA eligible for $210 million in federal congestion pricing funds if the governor signs the bill.
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