Austin Office of Sustainability upgrades transparency with a new online resource.
"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it," goes an old quote from Lord Kelvin, the 19th century mathematical physicist; the quote was adopted more recently by those who sought to change large organizations and bureaucracies.
Austin's Office of Sustainability measures 50 variables from the city's departments, but this information had previously been available only in annual reports. In order to make their work more accessible to a wider range of people, the department undertook an initiative to put all of this information into one updatable dashboard. This online tool could provide a dynamic resource updated with information on the city’s performance relating to sustainability goals. "The dashboard tracks 50 indicators across 10 categories, including food and health, energy, water, built environment, and zero waste." Reports Jen Kinney of Next City.
Though the final product may be digital, the collection of the data that builds it is still decidedly analogue. Kinney reports that the department seeks to automate the process moving forward, getting the data from the city to the people as quickly and accurately as possible.
FULL STORY: Austin Gets More Transparent About Sustainability
New Green Development Rules Take Effect in Austin
The city updated its development code to include more robust protection for local wetlands and stricter sustainable stormwater infrastructure requirements.
Racial Equity and Urban Climate Action
Equity is hardly mentioned in most urban climate action plans, but a few cities, like Austin, Texas, are leading the charge to center in equity in both the process and content of climate planning.
Trump Administration's Draft Budget Raises New Concerns About Data Collection
President Trump has made no secret of his disdain for many of the traditional data points used to represent the health and prosperity of the country. The budgetary process offers an opportunity to match words with action.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
Paris Voters Approve More Car-Free Streets
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says the city will develop a plan to close 500 streets to car traffic and add new bike and pedestrian infrastructure after a referendum on the proposal passed with 66 percent of the vote.
Making Mobility More Inclusive
A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.
Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service