Technology
A Brave New World: How Apps Are Changing Planning
Mobile applications (apps) are gaining in popularity as tools for increasing participation in local governance and planning, and are opening up new possibilities for planners to tap into the wisdom of the crowd.
Is AI really the Panacea to our permitting woes?
Let’s have a look at what’s happening on the ground.
NYC residents are using TikTok to alert Mandami of city infrastructure problems — and it’s working
The format went viral after a NYC resident posted a video of two potholes and found them paved within hours.
Does every planner need an AI policy?
From a hundred-person agency to a one-person consultancy, the answer is yes. The difference is what “policy" means.
Swapping your gas car for an EV is greener than keeping it, research shows
An EV repays the 'carbon debt' caused by building it after 4,400 miles.
Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to ban fully self-driving buses
State Rep. Ben Waxman's proposed bill would require autonomous buses to have a licensed driver on board.
USDOT is hiring thousands of gamers for air traffic control jobs
Sec. Duffy says the FAA has reached 94% of its staffing goal for air traffic controllers.
Children in 55 countries are redesigning their cities in Minecraft
A U.N.-backed program lets students and community members reimagine sites in their neighborhoods in the game — and translate them into real-life buildings.
Speeding surges after Ontario cities remove traffic cameras
The province ordered cities to remove the devices despite data that shows they save lives.
Court unfreezes $20B in federal climate grants
A U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the Trump administration potentially violated the Inflation Reduction Act by attempting to claw back grants awarded under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program.
Florida wants to shift its entire EV charger budget to air taxi 'vertiports'
FDOT argues the private sector is already building out the state's fast-charging infrastructure, so the state could redirect those funds elsewhere.
Amazon's steering wheel- and brake pedal-less Zoox robotaxis receive nation's first go-ahead for paid public rides
The NHTSA is giving a temporary permit to some autonomous cars that don't meet current safety standards as it develops a new framework for self-driving vehicles.
Commentary: Legitimate privacy fears undermine legitimate, life-saving speed camera programs
Automated traffic enforcement works — but excessive surveillance threatens to derail this key safety initiative.
EV battery waste threatens to overwhelm China's recycling system
The county processed over 400,000 metric tons of EV battery waste last year.
Judge orders Waymo to stop using 2 Santa Monica charging stations after noise complaints
Neighbors have asked the city to ban the company from using charging stations in residential areas between 11pm and 6am.
5 ways to hallucination-proof your AI output
With public trust on the line, the stakes are high for urban planners to ensure accuracy in our AI work. Here’s how to do it.
Flock cameras are now in 6,000 US communities
The automated license plate readers are causing backlash from community members concerned about surveillance and privacy.
Austin Waymos rack up nearly $10k in parking tickets
The robotaxis have been cited for parking in tow zones and double parking, among other violations.
New Jersey outlaws algorithm-driven rent setting
Landlords are now barred from using AI to establish rent costs.
Look North: 3 ways Canadian planners are crushing digital accessibility
Although accessibility regulations look similar in the United States and Canada, our northern neighbors have managed to make planning materials more usable for people with disabilities. Here's what we can learn from them.
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 Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
