Boyd Cohen reports on iPavement, an invention out of Spain that may be ominous or promising, depending on whether you see a benefit in every surface of a city becoming "intelligent."
Granted, there are surely some promising applications that make Madrid-based Via Inteligente's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled pavement a cause for excitement. According to Cohen, the pavement will allow "Things such as maps, information on nearby tourist attractions, music, local cultural events, coupons and even welcome and warning messages," to be sent to passersby. iPavement is also intended as a sensor network for "gathering useful information about pedestrian traffic flows and ambient air temperature."
However, are we the only ones feeling prematurely nostalgic for a time when a quiet walk down the street was the ideal avenue for reflection, and a chance to step away from your screens, rather than become immersed in them?
Read the full story: Smart Pavement Will Tell You The Weather, Offer Coupons
Madrid Uses Transit System for Parcel Delivery to Cut Emissions
A new pilot program uses trains to deliver packages at off-peak hours, lowering emissions from trucks.
Madrid Has the Bike Infrastructure Model the U.S. Needs
A happy accident, Madrid may have stumbled onto a bike infrastructure program with great results. Only time will tell if "slow" lanes yield long-term positive results.
Driving Ban in Madrid Central Survives Despite Change of Leadership
In sharp contrast to France's yellow vest demonstrations against fuel tax hikes, Madrid residents took to the streets to keep them free of motor vehicles after new leaders were elected who vowed to rescind the driving ban enacted last November.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
California city breaks ground on transit connector
The project includes three mobility hubs and a pedestrian bridge.
After public outcry, Massachusetts city releases housing development tracker
Cambridge’s tracker currently shows 250 housing projects in various stages of development.
40 years after approval, Chicago breaks ground on new park
The park honors Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the city’s first permanent non-native settler.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority