Iceland is the answer to the trivia question of which country is the first to approve drone delivery service.
Jennifer McKevitt shares news of new drone delivery service launched by Flytrex, partnered with AHA, in Iceland. The service launched this week near Reykjavik, and it's being touted as the world's "first operational on-demand urban drone delivery service." The Icelandic Transport Authority approved the commercial service.
Flytrex, based in Israel, is pushing for more innovation in last mile delivery logistics, and earned $3 million in funds last January to start testing the idea, according to McKevitt.
The idea has already found some traction in the United States. "Convenience store 7-Eleven has already piloted the technology for home delivery, while medical school Johns Hopkins is testing the technology for store delivery of medical provisions," writes McKevitt.
FULL STORY: Urban delivery drones take to the skies in Iceland
Second Anniversary of the COVID-19 Pandemic
March 11 marked the second anniversary of WHO's declaration of the pandemic and the beginning of its third year. Cases continue to plummet in the U.S. and plateau globally while war in Europe has overshadowed the virus that has killed 6 million.
The Hidden Costs of Drone Delivery
Ultra-fast drone delivery promises convenience, but comes at a high cost for workers, the environment, and public space.
Largest Carbon Capture Plant in the World Opens in Iceland
The plant draws carbon from the atmosphere and turns it to stone in underground wells, but the technology remains relatively expensive.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
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.
Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD
The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
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.
