Urban planners need to go beyond environment and stakeholder input, taking a stronger role in the development of new technologies to design new urban futures rather than relying on software engineers.
Urban planning has long concerned itself with the nuances of multi-stakeholder input and assessments, physical form, and environmental context. But what of the technologies used? Rampant discussion on the value of big data analysis, social media, and emerging technologies such as drones and new LIDAR systems dominate the internet. Yet amid these discussions, how many planners have some degree of expertise in computer sciences or engineering to better inform the design of new technologies? In the present tense, the bulk of these technologies are designed by engineers with an interest in urbanism and not by urban professionals. Perhaps it is time to expand the urban planning foci beyond environment, economics, and physical planning but to also include technology creation. By embracing these new technologies as critical infrastructure and infusing them with the insight of urban professionals, new possible futures can emerge.
Read the full story: Technology Determined Cities or Strategic Design for Tomorrow?
In Memoriam: William Mitchell
I learned with great sadness about the loss of William Mitchell, 65, this past friday after a long battle with cancer. Bill was the chair of my Ph.D. committee, a mentor and a friend.
“Skin, Like a City, Will Tell You if You’ve Ignored its History”
Once an urban planner, Sean Colgrave traded in infrastructure for ink when he became a tattoo artist. Now he says: one profession has a lot to learn from the other.
These Bear Safety Signs Illustrate the Impact of Good Design
What makes a sign effective?
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.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
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.
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