Technology
A Chatbot Talks Regeneration and Recovery for Seattle
In his recent analysis of trends to watch for 2023, Managing Editor James Brasuell noted how ChatGPT might replace all the writers of Planetizen, and more. Chuck Wolfe decided to take literally Brasuell's “don't let it sneak up on you” admonition.

'Intersections + Identities: A Radical Rethinking of Our Transportation Experiences'
The American Planning Association's free "State of Transportation Planning Report" includes more than two dozen interesting and entertaining chapters by diverse authors on the subjects of planning resilience, equity, technology and mobility.

Opinion: Transportation Funding Priorities Are Outdated
Investing in technology and promoting innovation in the transportation sector can further the Biden administration's goals of reducing carbon emissions and improving public transit.

L.A. Department of City Planning Goes Remote
Los Angeles Department of City Planning Director Vince Bertoni shares the status of the planning department and the daily challenges of providing public-facing service and community meetings under social distancing orders.

Pulling Back the Curtain on the Smart City
Technology is infiltrating every aspect of our lives, but, according to this article, we shouldn't underestimate the nefarious role it plays in urban spaces.

Generative Codes Yield Better Plans
Ngoc Hong Nguyen of the University of Danang writes about a recent article he authored in the Journal of Planning Education and Research

Can Autonomous Vehicles Absolve the Sins of 20th Century Planning?
Self-driving cars are likely to become part of the urban landscape in the future, and they have the potential to drastically alter urban environments—in good and bad ways.

Smart Cities, at What Cost?
Kansas City, Missouri, wants to be a smart cities leader, but it also needs to address concerns about data collection and privacy, say critics.

Can Rapidly Urbanizing Cities in Low and Moderate Income Countries Become 'Smarter'?
Penn IUR's Eugenie Birch, Richard Voith and Susan Wachter ask: Can rapidly urbanizing cities in low and moderate income countries become "smarter"?

Former Transportation Secretary Joins Lyft, Explains Why
Anthony Foxx, former Secretary of Transportation under President Obama, has accepted a job at Lyft. In a post, he discusses why.

Donut County: A Villainous Raccoon, a Hole in the Ground, and the Effects of Gentrification
In a new video game, the player is a no-good raccoon wreaking havoc on the world around him.

New Transit Tech Aimed at Blind Bus Riders
Connecthings, a transit app for the blind, is undergoing a trial that will connect its information to the popular wayfinding App BlindSquare in an Austin trial.

Subway Cars Become Art Spaces in Montreal
The MR-63 subway car is being retired but, rather than send them to the junk yard, STM is sending them to artists and engineers to repurpose them and put them to work.

Self-Driving Cars Hog Power
Self-driving cars process a tremendous amount of data to pilot themselves through crowded streets. That computing power needs electricity, and lots of it.

The Good and the Bad of Planning Websites
Students review municipal planning department websites in cities with more than 50,000 people to identify strengths and weaknesses. This post shares examples of the use of websites for information sharing and engagement.

Five Years Later: Zappos Founder's Downtown Las Vegas Project
Tony Hsieh laid out a grand ambition two create a more dynamic downtown in Las Vegas that would change cities all over the world. Now, after a series of setbacks and with dwindling funds, that vision seems unlikely to be realized.

The Best Planning Apps for 2017
A list of mobile apps that support planning, as part of an annual update. Learn about exciting new ways to explore cities and enhance planning via mobile apps. Please feel free to add your own favorites.

Quick Internet Delivery Services Clog City Streets with Delivery Trucks
Services like Amazon Prime and other quick delivery online retailers are creating more demand for short trip delivery, the result is streets jammed with vans. Bikes may offer an alternative.

Airbnb Ready to Make Concessions to the City of San Francisco
The city of San Francisco and Airbnb may move their dispute from the courtroom to the negotiating table, as the company indicates willingness to find a "win-win" with the city.
Simulating the City
Computer simulations show signs of a coming revolution with wide ranging impacts on many human endeavors, particularly cities and city planning.
Pagination
Houston-Galveston Area Council
City of Malibu
Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.