World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

Mini-Reactors Reinvent Nuclear Energy

A newly-designed nuclear "battery" utilizing 50-year old technology promises to revolutionize nuclear power with sealed, shed-sized reactors suitable for powering thousands of households.

November 10, 2008 - Guardian (UK)

Oil Shortage & Climate Crisis On Horizon

Despite the reduction in oil consumption caused by the global recession, the world faces a duel energy-environmental crisis of an oil shortage and climate crisis, according to the World Energy Outlook written by the International Energy Agency.

November 10, 2008 - The New York Times

Is 'Clean Coal' Really Clean?

The politicians name-checked 'clean coal' throughout the campaign. Has coal really cleaned up its act?

November 8, 2008 - Inhabitat

Skyscraper Lights Don't Have to be Dangerous or Wasteful

One architecture critic addresses two skyscraper-related conundrums: Decorative lighting that tops the buildings are energy inefficient, and they are dangerous to migrating birds.

November 4, 2008 - Chicago Tribune

James Bond, Architecture Critic?

The James Bond films have featured some of the most memorable built environments in all of cinema. Too bad Bond invariably blows them up.

November 4, 2008 - Guardian (UK)

Could Montreal Be Barcelona?

French starchitect Paul Andreu is creating a new iconic building for Montreal, but writer Joseph Baker posits that one splashy building does not a beautiful city make. Baker calls for a grand vision of city form on the scale of Barecelona's plan.

November 2, 2008 - The Montreal Gazette

Spooky Friday: Top 10 Scary Places

The Bermuda Triangle tops this list of spooky places, but the compendium also includes the Pirate House of Savannah and Colorado's Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for The Shining.

October 31, 2008 - MSN

Building the 'Electranet'

Al Gore did in fact invent the 'electranet', or at least he coined the term to explain the necessity of a new smart grid to transmit electricity from new, green sources like wind and solar. GOOD Magazine reports on the state of the electranet.

October 31, 2008 - GOOD Magazine

Cities With a Global Outlook: The Top 12

A team of management consulting and foreign policy professionals has released a report analyzing which cities of the world are most global in reach, looking at business activity, human capital, and information exchange. New York comes out on top.

October 31, 2008 - Business Week

Kazakhstan: The New Dubai?

Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, is reinventing itself as an increasingly wealthy and fast developing country through its architecture.

October 30, 2008 - Architectural Record

300% More Oxygen: The Guardian Examines Greenwashing

In a new weekly column, Fred Pearce of The Guardian examines corporate and municipal claims to sustainability.

October 27, 2008 - The Guardian

'The Earth in Your Pocket'

That's how developers at Google describe the release of Google Earth for the iPhone. Boing Boing's Joel Johnson wonders why it wasn't released for Android first.

October 27, 2008 - Boing Boing

Income Gap in American Cities As Bad As African Cities

Income inequality in U.S. cities rivals that of many African cities, which struggle with deep divides between the haves and the have-nots, according to a recent report from the United Nations.

October 26, 2008 - Reuters

World's Underground Waters Mapped

UNESCO has released a detailed map of the world's aquifers, a move the organization hopes will enable more intelligent use of natural resources.

October 26, 2008 - New Scientist

Three Oil Producing Nations Impacted By Oil Price Plunge

Plunging oil prices are hitting three oil-producing countries the hardest: Venezuela, Iran, and Russia. This article looks at each of them and evaluates how they will fare if oil prices do not rise, including their relationships to the U.S.

October 24, 2008 - The New York Times

Social Inequity a 'Time Bomb' for U.S. Cities

The annual UN State of the World's Cities report contains a dire warning for American cities: racial divisions and social inequities are at alarming levels.

October 24, 2008 - Guardian (UK)

Neighborhood Mapping A Booming Business

Bernt Wahl is a pioneer of neighborhood mapping techniques. This profile in Wired profiles this growing industry, and Wahl's struggles with intellectual property. Who owns your neighborhood?

October 20, 2008 - Wired

Climate Protection Jeopardized By Financial Crisis & Recession

The worldwide credit crisis will affect the ability of the developed world to tackle climate change. Businesses in Europe and U.S. are asking for delays in meeting emission reductions mandates notwithstanding the drop in oil prices.

October 20, 2008 - Wall Street Journal

Zip Line Your Way Across Town

Zip line tours- where you slide down a wire hanging from a lanyard- are growing in popularity in tourist spots like the canopies of rainforests. BLDBLOG proposes an urban application.

October 17, 2008 - BLDBLOG

Golf Course Development Stuck in Sand Trap

The uber-wealthy are still buying homes on luxury golf course developments, but the rest of the market is hurting as courses close and projects stall around the world.

October 13, 2008 - The Wall St. Journal

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.