I had the opportuntity, at the 2009 national planning conference in Minneapolis, to present (together with my colleague Christian Peralta Madera) ten free web applications that can be used to support planning.
Approximately 350 participants attended the session. Since the presentation, I've received over 100 emails congratulating us on the practical nature of the presentation, and requesting links to the websites we presented. Since our presentation was a hands-on demonstration, this blog entry outlines the ten technologies, and provides links to examples of the technology in practice and resources so you can experiment with the technologies.
Mapping
Walkscore to Get Bus Points
Transit stops are now included on Walkscore, the map-mashup website that scores neighborhoods based on their accessibility and walkability.
NRDC Switchboard
Atlanta To Map Itself
A group of 200 volunteers with GPS devices will walk the streets of Atlanta this weekend to create a community-owned map of the city and its intricate details.
BBC
Mapping Climate Change
Climate change is now being visualized in 3D maps on Google Earth.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Military Mapping the Threats and Advantages of Urban Areas
The U.S. Military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is investing in a program that looks to create 3D imagery of urban areas and the common spaces and objects that could pose threats or provide advantages to military operations.
CNET
Listed Properties Mapped by Google
Google Maps now feature visual displays of homes and properties that are listed for sale.
San Francisco Chronicle
L.A.'s Neighborhoods Defined and Mapped
After months of input on boundaries from readers, the Los Angeles Times has released its map of neighborhoods in the city.
Los Angeles Times
Top 10 Free Web Applications for Planning
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 11:00
Mapping the Catacombs
A new mapping project is creating a comprehensive 3D image of the catacombs beneath Rome.
BBC
Mapping the Future of Energy in B.C.
A mapping project has laid out a blueprint for the location of new green energy sites in British Columbia. Officials are hoping it will help guide the province towards more sustainable growth, but others worry it will encourage sprawl.
The Tyee
Defining The Neighborhood Through Mapping
In an effort to get a more precise look at the city and its distinct neighborhoods, the Los Angeles Times is starting a collaborative mapping project to set clear and adaptable boundaries for L.A.'s neighborhoods.
Los Angeles Times
Google Earth Goes into the Deep Blue
New updates to the online visualization program Google Earth add oceans to the image-based virtual version of the planet.
The New York Times
Tracking Inauguration Traffic in 4-D
In an effort to help officials and tourists in Washington D.C. deal with inauguration crowds, researchers at the University of Maryland have created a "four-dimensional" map that tracks traffic and road conditions in real time.
NPR
Neighborhood Mapping A Booming Business
Bernt Wahl is a pioneer of neighborhood mapping techniques. This profile in Wired profiles this growing industry, and Wahl's struggles with intellectual property. Who owns your neighborhood?
Wired
A Map of Personality Types
Geographical differences in personality types have been mapped by researchers, showing which parts of the country are more stressed, more curious, and more agreeable.
Telegraph
Mapping Needed to Improve Slums
Understanding and improving the Brazilian informal settlements known as favelas will require more information about the slums -- especially in the field of mapping.
Harvard Design Magazine
New Maps Show Broad Range of Earthquake Risk in U.S.
New earthquake hazard maps from the U.S. Geological Survey show increased earthquake risk areas beyond typical hotspots like California. Geologists say planners and local officials should react to the maps by updating building codes.
Discovery
New Website Shows Impact Of Transportation On Housing Costs
A new interactive mapping website launched by the Center for Neighborhood Technology in partnership with The Brookings Institution shows how affordability changes from neighborhood to neighborhood based on housing and transportation.
The Washington Post
Let the Computer Do the Driving
Avoiding traffic congestion may soon be as easy as surfing the web, thanks to new web software that maps out congestion and calculates the best and most efficient driving routes.
The New York Times
Google Sued Over 'Street View'
Pittsburgh couple sues Google for invasion of privacy after photos of their home are published on Google's "Street View" mapping feature.
The Smoking Gun
The Global City That Never Sleeps
By using telephone and voice over IP calling data, a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has created detailed maps of calls between New York and other major world cities, painting a vivid picture of globalization.
MIT News
Contribute
- On Remaking Shrinking Cities
- The Fall of Victorville
- Brain Gain in Eastern Germany
- Walkscore to Get Bus Points
- Finding A Sustainabe Path for Jakarta
- Isn't This How We Got Into This Mess in the First Place?
- Simulating Mount Rushmore
- Talking 'Bout a RailVolution
- The Solution for Homelessness? Homes.
- The History of the Parking Lot
Fleeting Design -- Scott Page
Public Options in Transit and Health Care -- Michael Lewyn
Let Me Clear My Throat -- Ian Sacs
Don't Bogart That Joint, My Friend -- Dwight Merriam
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Transportation Policy -- Todd Litman
D.C. Area Professional Development Courses Offered in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability– Last Chance to Register!
Planning Academy at Virginia Tech, VT National Capital Region campus in Alexandria, VA
Nov 05, 2009
Managing Growth With Priority Funding Areas: A Good Idea Whose Time Has Yet to Come
Routledge
Nov 04, 2009
Step Up Your Site Analysis with Planetizen's Advanced Google Earth Webinar
Planetizen
Nov 04, 2009
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