Technology

Exterior view of a Microsoft data center. Black multistory industrial building with Microsoft logo.

Virginia Coalition Calls for Increased Data Center Industry Oversight

Environmental groups voice concern that the states large, and growing, number of data centers is putting unsustainable pressure on natural resources and utility infrastructure.

December 13, 2023 - Inside Climate News

The Denver Skyline, according to Midjourney, an AI image generator.

Denver-Inspired Chatbot Serves as Prototype for AI in City Planning and Zoning

A prototype City Planning Chatbot uses AI to answer public questions on zoning and city planning in Denver. Although not endorsed by the City, the experiment demonstrates the potential power of AI to provide accurate planning and zoning answers.

November 5, 2023 - Chris Steins via Medium

Bird's eye view of city skyscrapers at twilight with blurred lights on streets.

Building Bridges to the Future: Preparing the Next Generation of Planners

Discover the importance of preparing the next generation of urban planners to build a sustainable and thriving future.

October 17, 2023 - Devin Partida

Black and white photo of Pike Place Market entrance in Seattle with "PUBLIC MARKET" and "Meet the producer" signs

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.

February 28, 2023 - Charles R. Wolfe

Portland Transit

'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.

August 10, 2022 - Intersections + Identities A Radical Rethinking of Our Transportation Experiences

Bridgeport Rail

Opinion: Transportation Funding Priorities Are Outdated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.

May 26, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Los Angeles Grand Park

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.

April 9, 2020 - The Planning Report

Smart City

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.

November 22, 2019 - Real Life

Quang Nam province

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

November 5, 2019 - JPER

Automated Vehicles

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.

August 8, 2019 - The Washington Post

Downtown Highway

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.

January 10, 2019 - The New York Times

Apartments

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"?

December 22, 2018 - Penn IUR Urban Link

Anthony Foxx Announcement

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.

October 11, 2018 - Medium

Video Games

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.

September 6, 2018 - Los Angeles Magazine

Bus Stop

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.

May 4, 2018 - Curbed

Société de transport de Montréal

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.

March 20, 2018 - Next City

Google Self-Driving Car smaller

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.

February 15, 2018 - Wired

man looking at computer screen

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.

April 3, 2017 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Downtown Project

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.

January 11, 2017 - Quartz

2017 Apps

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.

January 4, 2017 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

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.