Technology

New Tracking System Tackles Bus Bunching
Washington, D.C.'s DOT has adopted TransitIQ, a straightforward tracking technology, to help dispatchers keep buses on schedule.

Beyond the Big One: Real Recovery in San Francisco
What does it mean to be a Chief Resilience Officer for one America's largest cities? Doggerel spoke to Patrick Otellini, Chief Resilient Officer for San Francisco, to find out what it takes to make a truly resilient city.

How the Internet of Things Can Help Solve Water Woes
New tools and technologies of the so-called Internet of Things are helping cities get a better handle on water scarcity and overabundance.
How to Build a Real-Time LED Display of Your City's Transit System
One MIT student's love of transit means no one in his house will ever miss the T.
Eliminating the Dangerous 'Waze Left'
Vocal users of the wildly popular navigation app Waze have pushed the company's developers to look for a solution to its routing algorithm's tendency to send drivers turning left through crowded intersections.

A Counterpoint in the Great Uber Dialogue
An op-ed counters concerns about the social equity consequences of Uber by allowing the possibility of public benefits arising from transportation network companies.

Book Review: 'The Rise and Fall of Urban Economies: Lessons From S.F. and L.A.'
Reviewer Jon Christensen suggests that an alternative title to this book on urban economic development by four UCLA researchers could be the much simpler, and probably more attention-grabbing, "How San Francisco Beat L.A. — for Now Anyway."
Mercedes-Benz Developing Self-Driving Limousines
Manifesting predictions that many self-driving vehicles will serve as a new form of taxi service, Mercedes-Benz recently revealed some of its plans to develop a fleet of on-demand limousines.

Online Retail Curbs Urban Traffic
Despite claims that urban truck traffic continues to rise, recent data shows no real increase in urban vehicle miles traveled. Online shopping may be helping keep people off the roads.
White House Smart Cities Initiative Uses Connected Vehicle Technology
Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx unveiled a $42 million transportation program in Manhattan that is part of President Obama's new $160 million Smart Cities Initiative. Funds will go to NYC, Tampa, and Wyoming to reduce congestion and crashes.
Reyner Banham: The Man Who Wrote Too Well
Reyner Banham lost review of the designs of crash-test dummies.
Atlanta's Transit System to Add Cell, WiFi Access
"Cool, cool, cool, cool, in every way," is Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority CEO Keith Parker's assessment of a proposed deal to install cell phone and WiFi access in transit stations and tunnels.
'ManyCities' Uses Mobile Phone Data to Visualize Human Activity
A new online visualization tool makes it easier to read and understand data about mobile phone usage in four cities around the world, including Los Angeles and New York.
Better Data Means Safer Streets
Open data can be a powerful tool for illustrating the risks to public safety that will have to be overcome as more cities adopt Vision Zero initiatives.
Toyota Places $50 Million Bet on Driverless Car Research
Toyota is racing to keep up with Google and Uber on driverless car technology.
Speed Cameras Have Proven Record of Reducing Speeding, New Study Says
A study released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on September 1 showed steep reductions in speeding in Montgomery County, Maryland, where speed cameras has been in effect since 2007, reducing fatalities and severity of injuries.
How the 'Internet of Things' Is Changing City Operations
The potential of "Smart Cities" is still very much under negotiation. Data-Smart City Solutions at Harvard University surveyed what cities are doing so far to take advantage of the Internet of things.

Using Technology to Create Better Traffic Counts
Tired of standing on a street corner to count traffic? Technology is automating traffic counts and providing more detailed and accurate data to support planning.
The Road Safety Upgrade the World Desperately Needs: Self-Driving Cars
The headline chosen here summarizes the argument put forward by Vox's Joseph Stromberg, who believes that self-driving cars will be a serious upgrade over the average human driver.
State Documents Reveal Woes at Pioneering Atlantic Yards Modular Tower
What was promised as the tallest building in the world built by modular construction is delayed and the subject of lawsuits. State documents, recently made public, describe water damage, tolerance challenges, and unanticipated repairs.
Pagination
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