World
Global issues, U.N., etc.
Roadblocks Hinder Infrastructure in Russia's Olympic Host City
The relatively tropical seaside resort of Sochi, Russia will play host to the 2014 Winter Olympics. But building the infrastructure to support those games has become a major challenge for officials.
Privatize the Ocean?
With the devastating spill of oil in the Gulf, this post from The National Review suggests taking control over off-shore drilling out of the hands of government and putting it into the hands of private interests.
50mph Speed Limit Would Cut CO2 By 30%, Says New Study
Reducing the speed limit to 50 mph, say researchers, would create the tipping point where taking transit or modes other than driving will become more attractive and therefore save CO2 emissions.
We're All to Blame for Gulf Disaster
William Rivers Pitt says it's all too easy to blame BP or the politicians who deregulated the oil industry. Ultimately, he says, all of us are to blame for the Gulf oil disaster and the damage wrought by fossil fuels.
Designing Embassies in an Era of Terror
Embassies are a critical diplomatic tool, but their original emphasis on representing a state has given way to defending the diplomats inside.
Will Social Media Revolutionize the Planning System?
Joe Peach understands "that online technologies and the city are becoming increasingly integrated," and argues that social media should have a democratizing effect on the planning process.
Friday Funny: Architectural Analysis of Couch Forts
The staff of the BUILDblog review the architectural approach, style and design of kid-constructed couch forts.
A Better Solar Panel
Renewable Energy World reports that think tanks are making hug strides in the efficiency of solar panels.
A Brief History of International Expositions
As Shanghai aims to bring people together through spectacle, Edwin Heathcote examines the concept behind the festival and questions its relevancy.
The Most Complex Piece of Architecture Created by Mankind
340KM above your head, the first human dwelling beyond Earth's surface has just been completed. Last week, a space shuttle launched on May 14 added the final building block to the $125 billion International Space Station.
Putting the Park in Parking Lots
Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute proposes renovating city parking lots into actual parks would go a long way to improving the air quality of cities.
Intersection Density is Predictive
A new study by Reid Ewing and Robert Cervero in JAPA finds that "intersection density" is the single best indicator that people will walk and bike instead of driving.
Optimizing Singapore
IBM dispatched a team to Ho Chi Minh City on a charity mission to see if they could optimize the city of nine million people with infrastructural improvements. Jebediah Reed talks with IBM's team leader.
A 'String' Theory for High Speed Rail
This post from Gizmag looks at Anatoly Unitsky's String Transport Systems, which are trains that operate on above-ground rails at speeds of up to 300 miles per hour -- in theory.
Urban Yurts
Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, was planned by the Russian government in the 1950s with extensive infrastructure and lush city parks. That infrastructure is deteriorating, while more of the nomadic population move to the city to survive.
Countering Car-Orientation
Cities around the world are trying to undo decades of car-oriented planning. Lester Brown takes a look at the trend and finds some models for other global cities to follow.
Metropolises Aren't Sustainable
Famed architect Leon Krier says that "metropolitan development is a mistake and is unsustainable," calling for a more polycentric approach.
Chilly Kazakhstan Building Indoor City
In the capital city of Astana, temperatures can drop to -40F. Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev says the city is fighting the cold by building an entirely indoor city, under a dome 2 kilometers across.
The 10 Most Important Maps in the World
This article from The Daily Mail takes a historical look at ten maps that changed the world.
Moon Base Could Be Built By 2020
Japan has announced plans to build a base on the moon by 2020. The base would be built and used by robots.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
