Innovation

Power plant infrastructure against a sky at dusk with a virtual white globe overlaid on top.

AI’s Growing Threat to Climate Justice

Emerging technologies like AI have great promise for climate innovation, but also a hidden environmental footprint could lead to disproportionate harm to low-income and marginalized communities.

February 28, 2024 - Brookings Institution

View of Gateway Arch and skyline of St. Louis, Missouri.

How Public-Private Partnerships Shape Urban Development

Explore the significant role of public-private partnerships in shaping urban development and driving collaboration and innovation for sustainable city growth.

November 14, 2023 - Devin Partida

Downtown Seattle street with high-rise buildings.

Could an ‘Urban Innovation Lab’ Spur Downtown Revitalization?

In his fifth article for GeekWire, Chuck Wolfe asks whether an onsite “living lab” could spur more entrepreneurship and impact downtown regeneration in Seattle.

October 1, 2023 - GeekWire

View from inside large wastewater pipe laid ina trench looking out at construction site

‘Moonshot’ Infrastructure Program Aims to Fund Transformative Ideas

A new federal program hopes to replicate the success of DARPA by developing ambitious infrastructure projects with government funding.

June 20, 2023 - The Verge

Large numbers of young people, some wearing and masks and others note, walk around an outdoor shopping mall in Southern California.

Despite Covid, Planners Expect Return to 'Old Normal,' Survey Says

Although the survey collects data from a small sample, it looks like North American planners don't expect the pandemic to change much about the way cities are planned.

February 22, 2022 - Planning Practice and Research

Electric Scooter Share

Planning for New Mobilities: Preparing for Innovative Transportation Technologies and Services

New mobilities—emerging transportation technologies and services—have tantalizing potential. They allow people to scoot, ride, and fly like never before. However, they can also impose surprising problems. How should communities prepare?

June 30, 2021 - Todd Litman

Bank Owned

Lessons From the Great Recession

Professionals working in the built and natural environments have been through tough times before. A recent webinar offered a few prominent urban designers a chance to discuss how they coped with the last big economic downturn.

May 5, 2020 - CNU Public Square

Autonomous Vehicles

Technology Might Not Save Us

In the absence of more enlightened policies, technological change is as likely to increase pollution as to decrease pollution.

January 6, 2020 - Michael Lewyn

Lakeland, Florida

Co-Working Spaces Fill Opportunity Zone Developments

Developers are working to attract tenants to co-working spaces, in a relationship that they say benefits companies as well as surrounding communities.

August 21, 2019 - The New York Times

Radio Tower

2019 Already a Big Year For 'Smart City' Evolution

While 2019 doesn’t scream smart city revolution, we are seeing signs of significant smart city evolution.

April 2, 2019 - Robert Fischer

Electric Scooter Share

Asking for Forgiveness

In the age of new technology, is it better to ask for forgiveness, or beg for permission? Austin Brown and Kelly Fleming of UC Davis explore why companies have taken this approach and how policymakers and business leaders can improve the situation.

March 25, 2019 - Austin Brown

Monorail. Las Vegas

Mobility Plans and Dynamic Planning

A new survey by Governing and living Cities examines what it takes for cities to innovate.

December 26, 2018 - Governing

Somerville, MA City Hall

Somerville Launches 'Urban Lab' for Innovation

The city seeks to incubate creative ideas in the public interest.

November 1, 2018 - The Boston Globe

Denver

9 Transportation Innovations from U.S. Cities

Curbed surveys the nation for cities leading the push toward more sustainable, equitable, and effective transportation systems.

September 24, 2018 - Curbed

New York Bike Delivery

5 Ways Tech Is Changing U.S. Cities

A new era of civic-minded, urbanism-focused technology is here.

September 18, 2018 - Kayla Matthews

Adaptive Reuse

Author Discusses 'The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism'

An interview with Jeremy Nowak about how he thinks the new localism will shape 21st century urban places in an environment of municipal fiscal distress.

March 20, 2018 - Penn IUR Urban Link

1984 Olympics

Los Angeles Investing in a Transit-Oriented Olympics

Ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games, Los Angeles is rallying around infrastructure buildout and technological advancement.

March 1, 2018 - The Planning Report

Pittsburgh at Night

Report: How Pittsburgh Can Boost Its 'Innovation Economy'

A team of researchers at Brookings suggests ways for Pittsburgh to lock in its status as a hub of the next economy, leaving all talk of the "Rust Belt" behind.

September 17, 2017 - Brookings

Elevator

Behind Some of History's Most Powerful Urban Innovations

A series of pieces from Sidewalk Labs examines the history and context of vital urban "innovations." So far, elevators, sewers, and traffic signals have been covered.

September 14, 2017 - Sidewalk Talk

The Incredible Story of Frances Gabe and Her Self-Cleaning Home

The New York Times pays tribute to an American inventor, builder, and feminist who, more than anything, hated housework.

August 4, 2017 - New York Times

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.