World

London requires more topographical knowledge of its taxi drivers than any other city in the world. Now researchers have found that acquiring 'the knowledge' required to gain certification physically changes a human brain.

December 10, 2011 - The Atlantic

A new study that explores the geography of twitter networks finds that rather than making place obsolete, their intensity can be predicted by location and proximity, suggesting they enhance location based relationships.

December 10, 2011 - The Atlantic

The Indian government is betting big with simultaneously building a massive high speed freight corridor between Delhi & Mumbai as well the physical infrastructure for 24 new cities that will become an industrial corridor.

December 9, 2011 - Global Post

The City of Hamburg, Germany is planning on building elevated public parks on sections of the to-be-expanded A7 (Highway 7), which is considered one of the most important north-south connectors in Germany.

December 9, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

For the past 7 years, the people behind the TED conference have awarded a yearly $100,000 prize to an individual with "one wish to change the world." This year, they've skipped the individual and are going directly to the idea: The City 2.0.

December 6, 2011 - TED

As delegates from 191 nations gather in Durban, South Africa to tackle climate change, a new report shows the largest increase in carbon emissions, and the greatest percentage increase since 2003. Coal combustion accounts for more than half the gain.

December 6, 2011 - The New York Times - Environment

Architect Mattias Hollwich talks about BOOM, a community designed with the unique needs of gay and lesbian retirees that has become a blueprint for new retirement developments the world over.

December 5, 2011 - SmartPlanet

Brainchild of libertarians, seasteads are brand new cities built upon the ocean. It's not as far-fetched as it sounds, according to this article's author, but it will have to overcome the myriad engineering, energy, and legal challenges.

December 4, 2011 - The Economist

The Netherlands gains the title of 'Safest Place to Cycle,' which is mainly due to their extensive infrastructure. But how did these high quality cycle paths come to exist?

December 1, 2011 - Sustainable Cities Collective

Architect David Heymann says that a lot of architects claim to use the specifics of a site's natural features to inspire their design, but most end up with designs that are aggressive to the landscape - and to people.

November 30, 2011 - Design Observer

In urban street design, a new movement known as 'shared spaces' has been emerging. This new movement "aims to reduce the dominance of cars by getting people and vehicles to share the road space," according to Walkonomics.

November 30, 2011 - This Big City

The Carnegie Endowment's Shin-pei Tsay and Deborah Gordon expose five common myths and reveal three important facts on the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and present their solution to maintaining and improving America’s transportation infrastructure.

November 25, 2011 - CNN Opinion

Good planning is attracting young hipsters to cities throughout the world, writes Christopher F. Schuetze.

November 22, 2011 - International Herald Tribune via New York Times

Planetizen’s tenth annual list of the best books in urban planning, design and development ranges from a crowdsourced compendium of ideas for upgrading New York City's built environment to a personal report from the streets of Karachi.

November 21, 2011 - Michael Dudley

The retail chains have each announced expansion plans for next year, even as many businesses are closing stores.

November 21, 2011 - Retail Traffic Magazine

Locals expressed fear and resistance over a revision to Chattanooga, Tennessee's urban growth plan.

November 20, 2011 - Chatanooga Times Free Press

A study conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the 1990s found that living in poor neighborhoods can actually hurt your health.

November 19, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

A new report predicts how - and where - we'll be living in the near future, and where planners and developers should focus.

November 19, 2011 - The Atlantic Cities

The Big Map Blog features - well, big maps.

November 17, 2011 - The Big Map Blog

It's a new thought process driven by landscape architects that takes infrastructure that was previously single-use and turns it to multiple uses such as stormwater runoff and social equity.

November 14, 2011 - The Atlantic Cities