South Asia

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

Delhi to Implement Complete Streets Policies

Dehli's Aam Aadmi Party-led government announced steps to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users get preference over car users.

October 22, 2015 - The Hindu

Nepal Earthquake a Reminder of the Critical Role of Planning Enforcement

It's too late to save the lives of thousands in Nepal, but can other cities in South Asia and around the world learn from the mistakes of unplanned growth before another catastrophic event?

April 28, 2015 - CityLab

Bus Rapid Transit Key To Improving Urban Transport in India

Buses are the backbone of urban mobility in India. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is the key to creating efficient and attractive bus services that attract increasingly affluent residents.

December 16, 2014 - Bus Karo 2.0 – Case Studies from India

10 Lessons From 'Un-Smart' Cities

Technology company Ericsson has published its 2013 list of the world's cities with the best information and communications technology (ICT) networks, but there are also good things happening in the cities with the least developed networks.

November 29, 2013 - Future Cities

Traffic Lights

An Argument for Eliminating Traffic Lights

For far different reasons, uncontrolled intersections are proliferating in Northern Europe and Southeast Asia. But how can they be safe? Matthew Yglesias uses a video of such an intersection in Siem Reap, Cambodia to prove their functionality.

November 15, 2013 - Slate

residential downtown in Singapore

How Do You Grow One of the World's Densest Cities Without New Land?

Singapore has built skywards and taken back land from the sea to accommodate its booming population. But as the city-state runs out of options for future growth, it's looking underground to build infrastructure, offices, and even public spaces.

September 26, 2013 - The New York Times

10 Cities Most at Risk From Natural Disasters

Natural disasters affect millions of people each year, and cost between $60 billion and $100 billion worldwide. Here are the 10 global cities most at risk.

September 25, 2013 - Future Cities

Can Transit Oriented Development be Effective in India?

TOD as a planning tool is new to Indian cities, where the idea is being championed as a solution to congestion, environment quality and housing equity. Can this concept, developed for the North American city, be successful in Indian cities?

August 30, 2013 - The City Fix

Jakarta Confronts its Transit Transgression

You think your daily commute is bad? In one of the world's largest cities, a lack of citywide rapid transit means daily commutes of four hours for many Jakarta residents. Help is on the way, but conditions may get worse before they get better.

August 6, 2013 - The New York Times

Dharavi Slum

Is Urban Planning Effective in the Developing World?

A common question raised by those working in the developing world is whether urban planning is useful in those environments. Since questions often focus on planning of a comprehensive type, they overlook planning's intrinsic value and flexibility.

July 1, 2013 - The World Bank Group

Angkor Wat

Stunning Discovery Upends Our Understanding of Pre-Industrial Urbanism

The results of a survey conducted last year of the forests of Cambodia, but just published this month, has found a complex landscape of "low-density urban sprawl" connected to Angkor Wat, upending our understanding of pre-industrial urbanism.

July 1, 2013 - The Guardian

The World's Top Travel Destinations

Planning a trip to Bangkok this year? If so, you're not alone. The Thai capital tops MasterCard's new ranking of the world's most visited cities, with nearly 16 million tourists expected to see the city this year.

May 29, 2013 - The Atlantic

Government Report Blames City Officials and Factory Owner in Dhaka Collapse

Less than 24 hours after a structural engineer deemed the building unsafe, Sohel Rana ordered garment workers back on the job.

May 25, 2013 - New York Times

Collapsed Dhaka Factory Architect Speaks Out

Elizabeth Hopkirk reports on recent statements from the architect of the factory that collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing more than 1,100 garment workers. Masood Reza claims that he designed a shopping centre.

May 13, 2013 - Building Design

Is the Bangladesh Building Collapse the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of This Century?

As the death tool passes 300 from the horrific collapse of an 8-story garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, thoughts turn to New York City's Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. Can some good follow this disaster, as it did in New York?

April 26, 2013 - The New York Times

Activist Cyclist Peddles Women's Rights in Afghanistan

Jed Lipinski profiles Shannon Galpin, avid cyclist and founder of a nonprofit organization to aid women in conflict zones, who is hoping to improve women's rights in Afghanistan by supporting its fledgling bicycle culture.

April 18, 2013 - The New York Times

To Reduce Urban Poverty, Empower

Offering a list of policy innovations in several emerging mega-cities, URB.im managing editor Josephine d’Allant argues for empowerment over charity in the battle to improve conditions for the urban poor.

February 11, 2013 - Huffington Post

Sheikh Zayed Road under construction

The Emerging Asian City: An Interview with Vinayak Bharne

The publication of the 24 chapter volume “The Emerging Asian City: Concomitant Urbanities & Urbanisms”, brings together some of the most significant emerging voices and thoughts on the forces and phenomenologies shaping urban Asia today.

January 29, 2013 - Jonathan Nettler

residential downtown in Singapore

10 Lessons for Liveable High Density Cities

Armed with lessons learned from Singapore’s successful urbanization experience, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) has published a new report that identifies ten principles for creating liveable high density cities.

January 25, 2013 - ULI

Building Storm Defenses While Turning a Profit

The Rockefeller Foundation unveils its innovative plan to incentivize private investors to provide the infrastructure solutions for eight U.S. cities most vulnerable to extreme storms and rising seas.

January 21, 2013 - The Washington Post

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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.