Technology

Electricity and Rail Can Solve Our Energy Woes

Writer Benjamin J. Turon argues that we aren't in an energy crisis as much as a transportation crisis, and that we already have all the technology we need.

July 16, 2008 - The Daily Gazette, Schenectady

FasTrak Toll Hacking: Dangerous Or Ridiculous?

A "Black Hat security researcher" claims he has discovered security flaws in the FasTrak toll transponder used by drivers in California and Colorado. However, the story is quickly dismantled as "baloney" by a toll road industry insider.

July 14, 2008 - Toll Roads News

Networked Parking System Alerts Drivers to Free Spots

New technologies promise to revolutionize the hunt for a parking spot in big cities like San Francisco. Donald Shoup is along for the ride.

July 14, 2008 - The New York Times

It's Not That Easy Greening Your Fleet

Austin and a number of other cities are working to reduce the carbon footprint left by their fleets of city vehicles. Austin officials are looking for ways to offset their remaining emissions.

July 3, 2008 - Austin American-Statesman

GIS Solves Crimes

Cops in Toronto catch a criminal through GIS plotting, and reporter Sara Barbour takes us on a tour of other unusual new applications of GIS.

June 30, 2008 - Miller/McCune

The Green City of the Future

This multimedia presentation from Popular Science offers a vision of future green cities and the technologies that will sustain them.

June 29, 2008 - Popular Science

People Mover

This article from Next American City looks at escalators -- the expensive, energy-intensive, and often under-used transportation mode.

June 27, 2008 - The Next American City

Reviving the Lowly Clothesline

A grassroots group is working to remove barriers to erecting clotheslines, which are commonly banned by apartments buildings as a blight. The group is pitching their work as an energy conservation effort.

June 26, 2008 - Rutland Herald

On the Verge of Replacement, 'Geographical Community' Survives

The rise in virtual connections and Internet-based communities had many worried that traditional community interaction was dying out. Governing's Alan Ehrenhalt argues it hasn't yet, and probably won't.

June 19, 2008 - Governing

Using Web Mapping For the Public Good

The use of geographic information systems for the public good is a rapidly growing field. The technology shows great promise for discovering unequal distribution of resources and environmental racism, writes Peter Manzo.

June 18, 2008 - Stanford Social Innovation Review

Google Maps, Keep Out

North Oaks, Minnesota is one of a handful of towns pushing back on Google, claiming that their Street View feature is a violation of privacy.

June 12, 2008 - Star Tribune, Minneapolis-St. Paul

'Tele-Nurses' Save Precious Bucks on Ambulances

Instead of sending an ambulance every time someone calls 9-1-1, the Houston City Council voted to contract with a telephone nursing service for non-emergencies.

June 12, 2008 - The Houston Chronicle

New Yorkers Can Now Find the Best Bike Routes Online

A new web site that generates directions for cyclists could supplant the New York City Bike Map.

June 11, 2008 - Streetsblog

June is Public Participation in Urban Planning Month

Urban planning commentator Robert Goodspeed declares June "Public Participation in Urban Planning Month" and offers a four part series examining how technology and public participation might be more closely linked.

June 9, 2008 - The Goodspeed Update

Finding Ancient Cities Below the Surface

This slideshow form Popular Science takes a step-by-step look at how to detect and uncover ancient buried settlements from satellite imagery.

June 9, 2008 - Popular Science

Turning Garbage into Power

A new technology called plasma gasification may make landfills a thing of the past, and make city garbage collection a profitable service.

June 4, 2008 - Popular Science

Celebrating Buckminster Fuller

In expectation of a new exhibit opening at the Whitney Museum of Art, the New Yorker reflects on the curious life and career of Buckminster Fuller.

June 3, 2008 - The New Yorker

The Possibilities of 'Spime'

Noah Radford of Space Syntax gave an interesting presentation on the possible future of "spimes", objects like bricks that are given self-awareness in space and time (hence, spime) and what such objects might mean for future planning and design.

June 2, 2008 - Resources for Urban Design Information

Will Bay Area Transit Riders Get Wi-Fi?

BART, the region's rail transit agency, is negotiating with a private company to install a wireless network that would allow riders to check email and access the Internet.

May 28, 2008 - PC World

YouTube Exposing Cities' Traffic Problems

The video website YouTube is home to a growing number of clips that document traffic conditions in cities around the world.

May 21, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

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.