Stunning archaeological discoveries made in Brazil in recent years have upended conventional wisdom about the forests of the western Amazon.
According to Simon Romero, writing in the New York Times, the massive deforestation that has occurred in the Amazon, beginning in the 1970s, has exposed "flawlessly designed geometric shapes spanning hundreds of yards in diameter." The new findings could have an impact on our understanding of the ecological history of the Amazon and on the ongoing debate about razing parts of the forest to support agriculture or grazing.
"Instead of being pristine forests, barely inhabited by people, parts of the Amazon may have been home for centuries to large populations numbering well into the thousands and living in dozens of towns connected by road networks, explains the American writer Charles C. Mann."
According to Denise Schaan, an archaeologist at the Federal University of Pará in Brazil who now leads research on the geoglyphs, "the earthworks are 'one of the most important discoveries of our time.' But the repopulation of this part of the Amazon threatens the survival of the geoglyphs, after being hidden for centuries."
FULL STORY: Once Hidden by Forest, Carvings in Land Attest to Amazon’s Lost World
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
Podcast: Addressing the Root Causes of Transit Violence
Deploying transit police is a short-term fix. How can transit agencies build sustainable safety efforts?
Minneapolis as a Model for Housing Affordability
Through a combination of policies, the city has managed to limit the severity of the nationwide housing crisis.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.