South Asia

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

The public market at Warwick JUnction in Durban, South Africa is visible with the city ‘s high-rise buildings in the background.

6 International Models of Urban Revitalization

The New York Times recently published an article exploring six cities from around the world reinventing themselves for the 21st century: Paris, Sydney, Medellin, Lisbon, Singapore, and Durban.

April 3, 2023 - The New York Times

Subway in India

The Fastest Growing Cities in the World

None of the fastest growing cities in the world are found in North or South America.

January 4, 2022 - City Monitor

Southeast Asia

The Singapore Exception

Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong were credited early in the pandemic with having successfully contained the coronavirus without resorting to lockdowns. However, Singapore lost its standing in that elite group. Crowding vs. density may explain why.

June 9, 2020 - NPR - Goats and Soda

Beijing Traffic

Cities Have Tried to Rein in Cars, and the Results Have Been Mixed

Vehicle pollution is making cities around the world unlivable. Some cities have taken steps to curb auto use and emissions, with varying levels of success.

November 20, 2019 - The New York Times

Los Angeles Subway

Manila Subway Construction Underway

The Philippine capital will get an extension to its rail system with a new subway that will connect to the city’s airport.

March 15, 2019 - Next City

residential downtown in Singapore

Singapore Wins Smart City of 2018 Award

The city of Singapore has been chosen as the Smart City of 2018 at the Smart City Expo World Congress to recognize the most outstanding initiatives and projects in the urban innovation and transformation industry.

November 17, 2018 - Cities of the Future

Sri Lanka

Urban Extremes In Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan tourist destinations of Ella and Galle are microcosms of urban trends worldwide: one is a boomtown and the other is a boutique city.

March 3, 2018 - Common Edge Collaborative

Malaysia

China's Largest Online Retailer Using Artificial Intelligence to Tackle Congestion

A subsidiary of Alibaba, the massive online retailer, will deploy cloud computing and artificial intelligence to help relieve congestion in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

January 30, 2018 - Quartz

Rosa Parks, Jane Jacobs, Frederick Law Olmsted

Vote for the Most Influential Urbanists

After accepting nearly 200 nominees for consideration, we're asking for votes to determine the "Most Influential Urbanists" of all time.

September 7, 2017 - Planetizen

Scott Pruitt

EPA's Scott Pruitt Dismisses Global Warming Connection to Houston Flooding

While any one event can not be attributed to global warming, climate scientists have long acknowledged a connection to extreme weather. Pruitt, a climate denier, dismisses any such connection with the amount of rainfall from Hurricane Harvey.

September 5, 2017 - Talking Points Memo

Rosa Parks, Jane Jacobs, Frederick Law Olmsted

Poll: Who Are the Most Influential Urbanists?

The world has changed since Planetizen crowdsourced its "Top Urban Thinkers" in 2009. Which urban planners, designers, doers, and dreamers do you think have had the most influence on the world?

August 21, 2017 - Planetizen

Carpool Lane

Before and After Carpool Lanes

The Guardian shares news of a new study of a Jakarta lane that could prove that carpool requirements work to reduce driving and congestion.

August 7, 2017 - The Guardian

Public Transit Korea

Seoul and the Future of Transit

South Korea's capital enjoys better stations and more complete coverage from a train system that gets less of its money from government subsidies and charges lower fares.

June 22, 2017 - Mic

Mountain Climber

Traffic Jams Come to Mount Everest

The side of Mount Everest is no place for a crowd.

May 26, 2017 - The Washington Post

Thailand

The World's Best City for Street Food Bans Street Food

The city of Bangkok, Thailand, is famous for its cheap and flavorful street food. City leaders, however, have decided that the city would be less appealing without street vendors.

April 21, 2017 - The Nation (Thailand)

Vietnam

High Hopes and Stiff Resistance for Hanoi's New Bus Rapid Transit

Vietnam's capital is internationally known for pollution and traffic, the government is trying to take on both with a rapid transit bus system, but many remain skeptical.

February 24, 2017 - The Guardian

Sustainability or Survivability? How Environmental Crisis Follows Inequality Crisis

Asia's fast-growing cities are having disastrous impacts on both environment and civilization. A Singapore-based firm is trying to create news ways of building before it's too late.

December 8, 2016 - n+1

Naypyidaw

Myanmar's 20-Lane Road to Nowhere

Constructed at great expense over the past decade, Myanmar's planned capital city of Naypyidaw boasts an empty 20-lane stretch of road. The city's real purpose may be to discourage regime change.

May 3, 2016 - Atlas Obscura

Jakarta Skyline

Jakarta's Titantic 25-Mile Seawall

Indonesia's capital, population 10 million, is slowly sinking below sea level. To protect itself and drive the economy, the city is building a 25-mile bird-shaped seawall, to be topped with luxury development.

December 22, 2015 - Quartz

Finding New Ways to Protect Trees in Rapidly Developing Cities

Citizens in developing corners of the world are prioritizing green infrastructure as they struggle to deal with the environmental consequences of rapid growth.

October 26, 2015 - The City Fix

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.