Are billboards visual pollution, or valuable information source? Sao Paolo, Brazil banned billboards in the city in 2007 and is an interesting case study.
Arkinet has many excellent photographs of Sao Paolo's former billboards. Could the city's billboard ban work in other cities, and would it be a good idea if so?
Arkinet writes, "Implementing what in current society is such a drastic measure–banning the very lifeblood of the global economy in the public realm–wouldn't be without its imperfections. Assuming the genuine intentions of the 'cleaner city' plan and its implicit commitment to preserving culture, finding means of minimizing ‘visual pollution' is just as logical as countering noise, air, water or any other form of pollution Of course, subjectivity comes into play if some equate visual pollution to aesthetic vibracy for what is a metropolis without the lights and flashing neon signs? New York without Times Square? Tokyo minus Ginza?"
FULL STORY: Publi-City or No Publi-City?
Supreme Court Case Could Transform Sign Regulations
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Criticism of San Jose's Plan to Add New Billboards to the City
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Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
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MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
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Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
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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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