Technology
Connecting Coders and Cities
Urban Omnibus talks with Jennifer Pahlka of Code for America, a group looking to get the youth involved in developing computer programs and applications that help improve urban areas.
"Circle Less. Live More": Words To Park By
Explaining the mechanics of market-based parking can be pretty dry, if not outright wonkish. SF Park livens up the topic with (bike) bells, horns and cute, animated graphics in a new video.
The Future Needs of Cities
One of the problems with investing in large infrastructure, and transportation in particular, is that it's difficult to predict the needs of future cities, says Mathias Crawford. If we're all telecommuting, will we need buses?
Michigan Pinning Revitalization Hopes on Batteries
Backed by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Michigan has invested heavily in setting up factories to make batteries for electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt.
A Map of the Present and Future of Lower Manhattan
An online map developed by the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center documents change in New York City, and shows what development and construction is to come over the next eight years.
Artificial Trees Could Be Climate Key
Carbon dioxide is one of the most widespread greenhouse gases produced by humans. Trees can absorb it, but release it when they die. Scientists are looking to build artificial trees to do the job permanently.
Google Earth Reveals Un-Permitted Pools
A town in New York has been using satellite imagery from Google Earth to identify illegally-built pools.
Gadget Census Shows Technology Prefs Differ By Region
A website for technology shoppers conducted a census of sorts and uncovered that different regions prefer different technologies. For example, New Yorkers love iPads but in Massachusetts they prefer Kindles.
Mapping Kenya's Largest Slum
A new project has created a digital map of Kibera, a large slum outside Nairobi, Kenya.
Variable Pricing Parking Meters Unveiled in San Francisco
San Francisco has begun a two-year test of variably-priced parking meters in an effort to see how pricing affects driving and parking decisions in parts of the city.
Performance Parking
In this radio interview, KQED-FM reporter Kitty Felde interviews UCLA professor and parking guru Don Shoup on what he now calls "performance parking", a form of smart parking that includes congestion pricing used in D.C., SF, and soon LA.
Smart Parking With A Political Twist
Sausalito, just across the Bay from SF, has replaced attendants with pay stations in four parking lots. While embedded sensors monitor vehicle activity in the lots, residents are given a tag to hang in their vehicles providing 3 hours free parking.
Transit Discovers Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are becoming standard components of transit agencies' strategies for outreach and keeping riders informed.
Depaving Rural American Roads-Literally
Rather than being part of a car liberation or permeable pavement movement, poorly maintained county roads are having their asphalt ground into gravel as a cost-cutting measure to avoid costly road reconstruction. Lack of funding is the cause.
Air Conditioning and Community
A new book looks at the environmental, energy, and social consequences of keeping cool by using air conditioners. In this 4-minute public radio interview, author Stan Cox explains how to keep cool, just in time for the East Coast heat wave.
Many Ways to Reimagine Suburbia
The "Build a Better Burb" contest from Long Island Index has chosen 23 finalists with a variety of interesting ideas for redesigning the suburbs for the next century - in this case, Long Island.
Take A Floating Hotel Across the Ocean
Designer Nick Talbot, who worked on Virgin Galactic projects, is proposing a floating hotel he's calling "Aircruise" which would take a leisurely 37 hour journey between London and New York.
Tracking City Issues Through Read/Write Urbanism
Adam Greenfield looks at issue tracking systems for cities, and suggests that they can be taken a step farther by adding unique identifiers to urban infrastructure that automatically notifies city systems when problems arise.
Neighbors Connected
Face-to-face interactions between neighbors may be declining in some cities, but, increasingly, neighbors are connecting with each other online.
London's Eyes on Citywide Wi-Fi
London Mayor Boris Johnson wants his entire city wired with wi-fi networks -- even the tube.
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 Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
