Australia

COVID Deaths: U.S. in a League of its Own
An analysis by The New York Times compares current and cumulative COVID deaths in the U.S. to other large, wealthy countries. Data analyzed include vaccination, age and obesity levels, and public trust, all factors that influence outcomes.

The Hidden Costs of Drone Delivery
Ultra-fast drone delivery promises convenience, but comes at a high cost for workers, the environment, and public space.

American Jobs to Build Electric Vehicles Excludes Miners
Mining jobs needed to produce the metals for processing into battery parts used to build electric vehicles in America will not be developed in the U.S. but in Australia, Brazil and Canada, mainly to avoid battles with environmentalists.

How Electric Bikes Help in Battling COVID-19
For the last six months, the world has been on a stand-still. As government-imposed lockdowns spread across the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been looking left and right for alternatives to cope with the “new normal.”

Learning from Down Under
The governors of Arizona, California, Florida, Texas, and other states where COVID-19 infections are threatening to overwhelm hospitals should consider what their counterpart in Victoria, Australia, did on July 7 to contain the coronavirus.

How Suburbs Can Help the Climate Fight
Rethinking the "brutalscape" of infrastructure that supports the suburbs could be the key to the evolution of suburbs.

Demand for Lithium Drops as Global Electric Vehicle Sales Slump
It was long thought that a finite supply of lithium, a key element needed for electric vehicle batteries, would constrain the production of zero-emission vehicles, but the opposite happened: a slow down in EV demand has caused lithium prices to drop.

Study: Not All Green Spaces Are Created Equal
Tree canopies deliver the most benefits to health and social outcomes to neighborhoods.

Wave of New Apartment Building in Sydney Means Relief for Renters
Sydney built more than 30,000 multi-unit homes last year. That new supply has meant falling rents in most of the city.

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.

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.

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.

Electric Scooters Blast Profanity and Racism After Hacking in Australia
People have found many destructive ways to express their displeasure with electric scooter share, but this is a first.

Asian, Australian Property Markets Begin to Cool
Markets for residential property income of East Asia's most expensive cities are slowing down. The U.S.-China trade war is one factor, along with local controls and a mainland Chinese economy applying the brakes.

Report: Walking to Work Pays Off for the Economy
A new report by Victoria Walks, an advocacy organization in Australia, quantifies the benefits of choosing to walk. The report also benefits the multiplier of the choice to invest in pedestrian infrastructure.

Pacific Northwest Gears Up for Another Fossil Fuel Export Fight
Just two years after killing what would be the world's largest methanol plant at the Port of Tacoma, the project has reemerged at the Port of Kalama. According to the EIS for the plant, global CO2 emissions will be reduced, though increased locally.

Slowing Foot Traffic Costs Cities, Auckland Study Finds
The Auckland Design Office created a study to quantify the dollars lost from delayed pedestrian traffic.

Thinkers in the Tropical Shade: Empowering Lessons for Livable Places
Thanks to the Australian-American Fulbright Commission and UN-Habitat's World Urban Campaign, fundamental relationships at the heart of urban public health and livability are under scrutiny in tropical Australia.

Can Density Prevent Diabetes?
In Australia, a new study will determine the best ways to make high-density developments healthy places to live.

Global Reverberations from EPA Rollback of Fuel Economy Standards
Relaxed U.S. fuel economy standards, as Environmental Protection Administration chief Scott Pruitt announced on April 2, would have effects extending far beyond the United States.
Pagination
City of Greenville
City of Greenville
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.