Technology
Greener Gasoline to Come from Solar-Powered Oil Wells in California
Crude oil from Kern County's Belridge field will soon have a much lower life cycle carbon intensity thanks to new solar technology used to extract hard-to-get oil. The renewal of California's carbon cap-and-trade market made it possible.
The High Cost of Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging
There's nothing like the convenience of charging one's electric vehicle at home, assuming you have a garage, driveway, or your apartment building has a charger. California cities and utilities are working to increase EV infrastructure on all fronts.
Giving Pedestrians a Head Start on Safety
Traffic signals at more than 2,000 intersections in New York City now have a pedestrian head start, making them the "unsung heroes" of Vision Zero.
All I Want for Christmas Is a New Transportation Planning Process
I put my Christmas wish in a little early this year—wanted to give Santa time to deliver, and it's not an easy wish to grant. No data, no graphs, no citations, just some thoughts to share.
Making the Leap From Smart Projects to Smart Cities
Most "smart city" projects to-date are somewhat isolated and are not part of a more comprehensive network.
Timber Industry 'Bracing' for Soaring Demand
Building with wood is back in fashion, but lumber producers have to reckon with thorny politics and new timber-based materials that have yet to be truly defined.
How the U.S. Compares to Other Nations in Road Safety
It's not just death from gun violence where the U.S. is an outlier. The New York Times compiled traffic fatality data showing that other developed nations have greatly lower traffic death rates, which wasn't historically the case.
The Young History of Open Data Leadership in Pittsburgh
The city of Pittsburgh's Open Data project recently released a progress report to commemorate its first two years in operation.
Facebook Still Allowing Discriminatory Housing Ads
Last year, ProPublica revealed that Facebook's advertising features were allowing discriminatory housing advertisements in conflict with Fair Housing Act. After promising to improve, Facebook still fails the standards of federal law.
Foxconn Wanted an Autonomous Vehicle Lane to Locate in Wisconsin
News of the details of the negotiation between Taiwan-based Foxconn and the state of Wisconsin have revealed ideas about transportation planning that are either ambitious or delusional, depending on your opinion.
Tesla's 'Badass' Electric Semi Beats Diesel and Rail, Says Elon Musk
Tesla introduces a high-performance, totally electric, semi-autonomous truck that that can haul 80,000 of freight for 500 miles without recharging.
New Tool Analyzes Chicago Zoning Maps
Six thousand different maps of Chicago can now be automatically dissected online.
On Demand Ride-Sharing Finds New Homes
Via Transportation Inc is picking up where Bridj left off—offering on demand ride sharing in cities in California and Texas.
Could Autonomous Vehicles Save Lives in Disasters?
Autonomous vehicles could provide life-saving assistance in the event of a large-scale evacuation, if a shared fleet of autonomous vehicles is built with this purpose in mind.
On the Pitfalls of Dockless Bikeshare
App-driven bikeshare, without the station, has been spreading rapidly, especially in China. But the system comes with its share of problems, including its own version of the tragedy of the commons.
Bill Gates Buys 25,000 Acres in Arizona for a Master Planned 'Smart City'
The new community of Belmont will join Arcosanti as another attempt at turning Arizona desert into the next evolution of human habitation. This time, one of the richest men in the world is behind the plans.
U.K. to Uber: Drivers Are Employees
A court ruling in the United Kingdom topples a pillar of the so-called gig economy: Uber's approach to employment.
66 percent of Surveyed Cities Investing in Smart Cities Technology
The "Cities and Innovation Economy: Perceptions of Local Leaders" report reveals the traction smart cities technology is gaining in municipal budgets.
P3 101: Comparing Infrastructure Procurement Models
Already a common means of delivering infrastructure in many countries, public-private partnerships are growing in importance in the United States, but how do they compare to other procurement models?
The Great Transportation Wormhole: Are We Ready for Autonomous Vehicles?
Transportation planners are on to something big and, for the most part, they are keeping it to themselves. The future is a relatively small fleet of shared, electric, self driving vehicles, and it's coming fast. Are we ready?
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
