Artificial Intelligence
AI agents: What urban planners should know
The self-driving cars of the AI world open a trove of opportunities for planners — and a whole new set of challenges to overcome.
Virginia officials end support for proposed data center next to Civil War battlefield
The proposal for a 2,100-acre site in Prince William County has been in dispute for years.
Without data centers, nonresidential construction would be down by 12.7%
Most sectors outside of data centers pulled back on new construction starts.
Voters in Wisconsin city pass nation's first data center referendum
The measure requires voter approval for tax incentives to new data centers.
Wyoming touts ‘ample land, firm power’ in bid to woo data centers
The state is taking a proactive approach to data centers, hoping the tech behemoths will bring jobs and economic development.
Everything you Need to Know from the APA’s 2026 Trend Report for Planners
Plus, a conversation with the APA’s Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer, Petra Hurtado.
America’s Next Rust Belt Could be its Most Digitally Connected Cities
Research warns that the rise of AI is making some of the country’s most economically successful cities vulnerable to AI-driven decline.
Getting Started with AI: A Practical Guide for Urban Planners
Planetizen’s resident AI and planning expert answers the number one question he gets asked: where do I begin?
Memphis Data Center Will Harness Wastewater for Cooling
The xAI-owned Colossus facility uses as much water as 10,000 households.
San Jose Moves to Rein in Flock Cameras, Joining in Backlash Amid Privacy Concerns
The city’s police chief is asking to limit the company’s data retention and sharing abilities.
What the Data Center Boom Means for Planners
It’s tempting to write off the havoc that data centers are wreaking in communities across the country as an IT problem. The truth? It’s a planning problem.
Boston Launches AI-assisted ‘Curb Lab’
A new digital project will help the city manage curb space and offer parking information to the public.
San José’s Buses Run 20% Faster Thanks to AI
The city is employing AI to adjust traffic signals to prioritize buses.
DOT Will Use AI to Write “Good Enough” Regulations: “We’re Flooding the Zone”
The agency wants to speed up the rulemaking process to as little as 30 days.
AI for Planners Explained: Urban Digital Twins
When AI stops talking and starts showing.
Santa Monica Puts AI Cameras on City Vehicles to Ticket Bike Lane Blockers
The city already uses bus-mounted cameras to catch violations along bus routes.
Planning Trends for 2026: States and Cities Take Initiative, Passenger Rail Gains Steam, and the Costs of AI Revealed
With federal funding for everything from transportation projects to housing assistance under threat, city and state governments are poised to take a stronger role in building strong, resilient local economies and public services.
US May Have 100 Times More Blackouts by 2030
Rising demand driven by AI data centers and uncertain energy sources could lead to a surge in power outages by the end of the decade.
Nearly Half of Pennsylvania Residents Oppose Data Centers. Lawmakers are Welcoming Them Anyway
A raft of proposed legislation aims to both regulate and encourage the building of data centers in the state.
New York MTA Wants to Use AI to Detect Weapons and Other Threats on Transit System
The agency is exploring ways to monitor its thousands of cameras to quickly detect potential threats.
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
