Citizen volunteers are democratizing the field of online mapping, spreading out to document neighborhoods and streets worldwide.
Average citizens have been contributing data to online maps for years, but they are now taking a more active role - creating and editing underlying maps of streets, rivers, and landscape features, revising locations of buildings and major landmarks, and adding myriad local details. Mapping platforms find many of the same benefits and challenges as collective editing sites like Wikipedia. Ups and downs aside, people who take to the streets with GPS in hand are changing the way mapping companies do business: Google is dropping its corporate map providers and relying on volunteers, who produce more complete maps than the professionals.
Thanks to Rebecca Sanborn Stone
FULL STORY: Online Maps: Everyman Offers New Directions

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
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Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
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What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
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Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie