Technology

Should Architects Be Citizen Scientists?

Can self-contained urban food systems exist in the core of our cities? Architect Darrick Borowski of New York based firm ARExA developed a model to determine just that.

August 21, 2015 - Doggerel

Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island's Pneumatic Garbage System

On New York City's Roosevelt Island, residents have long lived free from the roar of garbage trucks. Instead they use Avacs, an island-wide system of pneumatic tubes that moves trash to a central location for processing.

August 21, 2015 - The New York Times

Access to Jobs

A Central Hub for Open Data

Designed by researchers at the University of Chicago, the Plenario platform gathers all available open data for a specific area. Then it presents the data in an easy-to-use format.

August 18, 2015 - Government Technology

Google Mobility

Transportation Apps Designed to Ease the Commute

We all travel, so it's great when a handy new mobile app makes it easier to move around. Whether it is navigating the city, parking, or making our ride safer, there is likely a transportation app for that.

August 18, 2015 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Study: Access to Uber Reduces Drunk Driving Deaths

Researchers have found evidence of one fairly consequential benefit of transportation network companies like Uber.

August 14, 2015 - Streetsblog USA

Atlantic City Boardwalk

Atlantic City Could Become Empire of Innovation

Atlantic City, New Jersey, has been down on its luck lately. But, in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, AC could become the ideal laboratory for developing technologies and practices to help coastal cities build resiliency in the face of climate change.

August 14, 2015 - Fast Company

Designing for Rapid Change and a Cloudy Future

Designing large-scale projects that can take years to build in industries that are constantly evolving run the risk of becoming outdated once completed. Arup's Andrew McAlpine discusses how to design for the long-term while remaining innovative.

August 13, 2015 - Doggerel

'Digital Coast' Connects Planners and Data for Coastal Resilience

A new resource created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with the APA makes it easier for planners to access the data necessary to plan for climate adaptation, sea level rise, and other forms of coastal resilience.

August 13, 2015 - APA Policy News

How Technology Will Improve Inspection and Maintenance of Streets

A researcher in Pittsburgh could render obsolete the arduous task of manually inspecting streets for cracks and potholes.

August 6, 2015 - Keystone Crossroads

Common Issues Facing Cities—Aggregated from 100 'State of the City' Speeches

Around the country, issues related to the field of planning dominate the public discussion of the "state of the city."

August 6, 2015 - Fast Co.Exist

Somerville, MA City Hall

Somerville Reaches for Carbon Neutrality by 2050

The city has launched a program of collaboration with the green tech industry.

August 6, 2015 - Governing

Working Toward Open Data for Building and Construction Permits

The potential of a standard, easily accessible data set tracking building and land use permits could completely change the way the public interacts with changes in their community.

August 5, 2015 - The Washington Post - Wonkblog

A Really, Really Big Fuel Cell Vehicle Possibly Coming to the Bay Area

This vehicle would be larger than a Hummer, a bus, and even an 18-wheeler. Then again, it would not travel on land. The proposal goes by an appropriate acronym: SF-BREEZE. Think fresh air over the bay.

August 3, 2015 - AASHTO Journal

New York Cycling

Bikes Have the Attention of the Ford Motor Company

The age-old conflict between cars and bikes finally has the attention of one of the giants. Ford's Info Cycle project mounts sensors on street bikes to map out how multi-modal city travelers move around.

July 27, 2015 - CityLab

Pittsburgh Bridge

New App Plots the Most Beautiful, Walkable Route

Interested in finding the road less traveled by? Walkonomics has launched in seven cities around the globe.

July 25, 2015 - ASLA The Dirt

Meet the Uber for Kids

With extra layers of security and a pricing model that differs from other transportation network companies, HopSkipDrive is looking to tap into the crucial "busy parents" demographic.

July 21, 2015 - TechCrunch

United States from Space

How Data Privatization Will Change Planning Practice

Planners will be presented with new challenges and opportunities in a new era of data-enhanced government.

July 20, 2015 - Kendra L. Smith and Kevin C. Desouza

Glasgow City Center

Tomorrow's Digital City Center: The Glasgow Agenda

Take a walk around your downtown and what do you see. Most people are attached to their mobile phones, using them for directions, searching, and texting. See how can cities leverage digital technology to create a more engaging city center.

July 17, 2015 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Control Room

Resources for the Emerging Field of Urban Science

As city planners we are increasingly recording, measuring, and organizing city data—a practice known as urban science. Learn about resources across the globe helping to better understand our cities.

July 16, 2015 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Turnstiles

Enabling Travel Through Your Smartphone: Mobility as a Service

Imagine on your phone being able to wake up and with a simple click be able to arrange all of your transportation needs for the day. Soon your bus pass, carsharing pass, bikesharing pass, and your personal vehicle will go away—replaced by an app.

July 14, 2015 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.