Technology

Electricity from Biomass More Efficient than Ethanol

A new study by researchers at the University of California, Merced suggests that using biomass to create electricity to power cars could be more efficient than using the same biomass to create ethanol to power cars.

May 11, 2009 - UC Merced

Bend it Like Concrete

Advances in material development have brought to the market a new type of concrete that can bend under pressure and heal cracks with the addition of water.

May 7, 2009 - National Geographic

Mapping the Catacombs

A new mapping project is creating a comprehensive 3D image of the catacombs beneath Rome.

May 7, 2009 - BBC

Google Takes Government Data Public

A new search tool from Google makes it easy to find public information, a move the company hopes will encourage governments to be more transparent with their data.

April 30, 2009 - The Washington Post

Rebuilding as the "Town of the Future"

After Greensburg, Kansas was nearly flattened by a tornado in 2007, rebuilding the town has taken an environmentally conscious road.

April 30, 2009 - CNN

Standing Up for the Brooklyn Bridge

David McCullough's Newsweek essay ponders the negative effects of a proposed development on the majestic Brooklyn Bridge's image.

April 30, 2009 - Newsweek

Should Cities Regulate Library Internet Use?

The city of San Jose decides against adding filters to public library computers to block websites with pornography.

April 25, 2009 - San Jose Mercury News

Plans for Retrofitting, Audits Announced for NYC

In a step toward accomplishing PlaNYC's goal of reducing the city's carbon emissions by 30% in the next twenty years, Mayor Bloomberg has announced that larger buildings will be retrofitted to be more energy efficient.

April 24, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

Smart Grids to Get More Funding

The Energy Department has announced that it will be increasing grant limits to implement smart grid technology. The current $20 million per grant, officials say, just isn't enough to get the technology used at a commercial scale.

April 24, 2009 - The Washington Post

Fed Money Announced for CA's National Parks

Twenty-two national parks in California will get a portion of $97 million to repair historic buildings, install solar panels, and fix trails.

April 24, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Vatican Reveals Solar Plant Plans

Vatican City has plans to build the largest solar plant in Europe, which will supply enough power for 40,000 households in a state of 900 inhabitants.

April 23, 2009 - Bloomberg

Inside L.A.'s High-Tech Traffic Control System

Streetfilms goes behind the scenes at Los Angeles' Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control office, which monitors and actively controls L.A.'s signalized intersections.

April 21, 2009 - Streetsblog

Obama Trumpets High-Speed Rail

Quoting Daniel Burnham, Obama announced that America should "make no little plans" as he affirmed his administration's commitment to building high-speed rail across the nation. Ten corridors were highlighted.

April 16, 2009 - Washington Post

Funds Promised to Ease Water Troubles

The state's water supply is in trouble, and its beat-up water system can't hold up much longer. On Wednesday the federal government has promised to step in and help California rebuild its water system.

April 16, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

An Unsustainable Industry's Call to Planners

Australian transport official Nick Dimonpoulos has called on better land use and long-term planning to avoid flooding and temperature extremes brought on climate change caused by land transportation-related emissions.

April 16, 2009 - Transport & Logistics News

Flexibility and Integrity

Portland urban designer Arun Jain has released his Urban Design Framework, a vision that requires planners to give themselves more leeway "without giving up core values."

April 15, 2009 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Obama Advisor on the State of Transportation

GOOD Magazine talks with Joseph M. Sussman, an external adviser to the Department of Transportation and professor at MIT, about high-speed rail, intelligent transportation systems, and more.

April 14, 2009 - GOOD Magazine

Thirteen Strategies for Sustainability

How is Kansas City to make itself sustainable? This blog offers 13 strategies, one posted a day, from experts in different fields.

April 11, 2009 - One KC Voice

Boston's Transportation Choices Studied

A draft Environmental Impact Report is now underway to study the proposed routes and power sources for rail extensions south of Boston. Considerations include ridership, wetlands, smart growth benefits, and future development around train stations.

April 10, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Tall Towers Break Records, in Height and Numbers

The number and average heights of skyscrapers erected in 2008 are the highest ever thanks to a “lag effect” in the market and a shift toward sustainability.

April 10, 2009 - Architectural Record

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.

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.