World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy made landfall at 8pm ET on October 29, 2012 about 5 miles southwest of Atlantic City, NJ, as seen in this NOAA GOES-13 satellite colorized infrared image from the same time.

Jail the Planners for Not Preventing Sandy!

Ed Blakely indicts the planning profession for failing to protect our communities from the threat of a changing climate. How can we plan places that serve as bulwarks from the worst physical traumas, while providing economic and social resiliency?

November 5, 2012 - Edward J. Blakely

A Brave New World: How Apps Are Changing Planning

Mobile applications (apps) are gaining in popularity as tools for increasing participation in local governance and planning, and are opening up new possibilities for planners to tap into the wisdom of the crowd.

September 4, 2012 - Jennifer Evans-Cowley

Intersection with sign for Gillett Square in East London, UK with brick buildings with ground floor storefronts.

‘Architectural Epidemiology:’ Centering Public Health in Urban Design

A new book asks, what if cities were designed around health equity?

July 10, 2025 - Next City

Screenshot of Central Park lawn full of people lying down and hanging out on a sunny day from Frederick Wiseman film.

Frederick Wiseman: Cinema’s Greatest Chronicler of the City

For over 60 years the legendary documentarian has quietly chronicled the urban American experience. The result is a subtle, stubborn celebration of the unsung hero of civic life: process.

July 7, 2025 - Jake Pitre

People swimming in Rhine River on a sunny day with low-rise, dense buildings along waterfront in background.

Is Your City Swimmable?

An interview with organizers of the inaugural Swimmable Cities Summit, which took place this June 22-24 in Rotterdam, NL.

June 30, 2025 - Mark Tirpak

Bird's eye view of busy urban intersection with bus lanes, traffic, and pedestrians.

How Understanding Near-Misses Can Improve Road Safety

Most road safety efforts are based on data about crashes that have already occurred. But important information can be gleaned from incidents when something almost went wrong, but didn’t.

June 24, 2025 - Cities Today

Two young women roller skating in a park on a sunny day.

How Public Spaces Exclude Teen Girls

Adolescent girls face unique challenges and concerns when navigating public spaces. We can design cities with their needs in mind.

June 12, 2025 - Next City

Bike Parking Utrecht Centraal Station

Supporting Cycling Takes More Than Just Bike Lanes

Safe, protected bike lanes are a key part of a city’s bike infrastructure — but secure parking, e-bike charging, and other amenities can also influence people’s shift to cycling.

June 11, 2025 - Cities Today

Group of children playing on splash pad in urban park.

How Extreme Heat Impacts Children

As summers get hotter and more dangerous, parents can take steps to protect kids from heat-related illnesses.

June 11, 2025 - NBC Los Angeles

An arched bridge over a pond in a Japanese garden surrounded by bright red and yellow foliage.

‘Quiet Parks’ Highlight Importance of Silence for Public Health

The initiative recognizes parks and other areas that preserve natural quiet in a world full of noise pollution.

June 11, 2025 - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Woman and young girl looking at subway map, woman pointing.

Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?

Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.

June 9, 2025 - John Pobojewski

AI-generated image of high-speed rail trail in elevated track in green hilly farmland.

Four Reasons Urban Planners Can’t Ignore AI

It’s no longer a question of whether AI will shape planning, but how. That how is up to us.

May 28, 2025 - Tom W. Sanchez

Mycena stipata, commonly known as clustered pine bonnet, mushroom from Finland growing out of the end of a log.

Bioremediation for Environmental Justice

Bioremediation uses plants, fungi, and microbes to clean up polluted land in place, offering a nature-based option for restoring contaminated sites in overburdened communities.

May 26, 2025 - Progressive City

Aerial view of dense urban center with lines indicating smart city concept.

Why a Failed ‘Smart City’ Is Still Relevant

A Google-backed proposal to turn an underused section of Toronto waterfront into a tech hub holds relevant lessons about privacy and data.

May 23, 2025 - Governing

Man reaching for young girl sliding down playground slide.

Quantifying Social Infrastructure

New developments have clear rules for ensuring surrounding roads, water, and sewers can handle new users. Why not do the same for community amenities?

May 15, 2025 - Happy Cities

Seeing the Better City

Is This Urbanism?

Chuck Wolfe ponders a recommended subscription list of Substack urbanists and wonders — as have others — about the utility of the "urbanist" moniker.

May 13, 2025 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

"Radiation Zone, Keep Out" sign on wood post with red Arizona desert mesa in background

Integrating Human Rights Into Energy and Extractive Sector Transitions

Why just transition efforts must move beyond economic considerations by embedding human rights principles into business practices to ensure equitable, transparent, and accountable outcomes for affected communities and workers.

May 12, 2025 - Cambridge University Press

Orange Planetizen Courses 25 for 25 anniversary banner.

25 Years of Impact: Planetizen’s Top Courses Shaping Planners Today

As the planning industry continues to evolve, Planetizen remains committed to helping planners through those changes.

May 8, 2025 - Planetizen Team

Bike Commute

The Rippling Effects of Bike-to-Work Subsidies

A European movement to incentivize people to commute by bicycle is changing travel patterns and making mobility more sustainable.

May 7, 2025 - Momentum Magazine

Tree-lined street with large old trees and full parking lane and one-way driving lane in Spain.

Research: More Complex Streets Are Safer

Streets that offer more perceived obstacles and distractions can force drivers to slow down and drive more carefully.

May 4, 2025 - State Smart Transportation Initiative

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.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.