Technology

Report Offers Guidance on 'Smart City' Investments
"The challenge of paying for smart cities projects" report by Deloitte recommends several steps for making the most of investments in "smart city" technology by city governments.

China Will Drive Electric Vehicle Market
Two new reports on the outlook of electric vehicles paint a bright future for the new technology. No country is more critical than China, where policies will force global auto companies to invest in clean technology if they want to have a future.

California to Invest $1 Billion in Electric Trucks, Buses, Charging Infrastructure
The investment comes not from the state legislature but from two regulatory bodies, the Air Resources Board and the Public Utilities Commission, authorizing the expenditure of VW settlement funds and utility ratepayer funds, respectively.

20 Finalists Announced in the 'Canada Smart Cities Challenge'
The winner of the Grand Prize for the Canada Smart Cities Challenge will receive $50 million CAD ($38.5 million USD).

Op-Ed: Designs for Uber's Skyports Fail on the Basics
The hulking structures proposed to handle UberAIR's fleet of flying taxis won't be able to serve 4,000 passengers per hour. And that's just one of their many deficiencies, Alissa Walker writes.

Dan Gilbert in His Own Words
At a recent public appearance, Dan Gilbert gave rare insight into the business success of Quicken Loans and its connection to the revitalization of Detroit.

Bad Break for Scooter Rental Company in its Hometown
Years before there was e-scooter-share, there was electric (Vespa-like) scooter-share in San Francisco by start-up Scoot. Now that they are ready to launch electric bikeshare, the city won't let them, unlike Barcelona, Spain where it began service.

Elon Musk's 'Personal Rapid Transit' Plans Panned By Critics
The "Loop" is the latest manifestation of Elon Musk's transportation fantasies, offering "personal rapid transit" to and from anywhere in Los Angeles without any congestion or cost.

The Best Planning Apps
Planetizen is pleased to present the best of the latest crop of mobile apps by planners and for planners.

Report: Bus Transit 80% Electric by 2040
Analysts expect electric buses to be cheaper to operate than diesel buses by 2019.
A Hello Kitty-Themed Bullet Train to Begin Operation in Japan
A Shinkansen train will launching service on June 30 with Hello Kitty seats, benches, and a dining car.
Tiny Home Taken Beyond the Next Level—300 Micrometers
The tiniest house anyone has ever seen.

Self-Driving Car Companies Could Print Money If They Play User Experience Right
Providing user experience in self-driving cars offers an under-appreciated business opportunity.

Automated Vehicles Pose 'Political Threat' to Transit
TransitCenter's Steven Higashide argues that despite all the hype around self-driving vehicles, traditional high-capacity transit still has some distinct advantages. As long, that is, as transit agencies are willing to recognize them.
'Father of GPS' awarded IEEE Medal of Honor
At the IEEE honors ceremony today [May 11] in San Francisco, Bradford Parkinson, a retired Air Force colonel who spent his life between maps and navigation systems, will be awarded the 2018 IEEE Medal of Honor,.

Campaign Launched to Electrify School Buses
U.S. PIRG wants states to use funding from multi-billion dollar Volkswagen settlements to convert the nation's school bus fleet, 95% of which is diesel-powered, to zero-emission buses to reduce children's exposure to toxic air pollution.

Delivery Robots Get Legal Status in Washington, D.C.
A delivery drone pilot launched in Washington, D.C. in 2016 has been expanded for further deployment.

Robotics and the City: 3 Global Examples
Three case studies of robotics technology integrated into the design and management of urban settings offers a glimpse of a potential future.

Dockless Bikeshare Has More Bikes Than Riders
Private bikeshare companies have rolled out large fleets of bikes in cities around the world and United States, but despite their ubiquity, dockless bikeshare is actually much less popular than traditional bikeshare.
Driverless Vehicles Set to Pick Up Passengers in Texas
The biggest state in the union is making room for self-driving cars, starting with four self-driving vans.
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