World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

Put the Morals of Self-Driving Cars to the Test

Meet the Moral Machine, which echoes a standard many people hope self-driving cars can achieve.

August 9, 2016 - Moral Machine

Shanghai

Where Have all the Great Urban Places Gone?

Newly built urban places leave a lot to be desired, according to this article in Governing.

August 7, 2016 - Governing

Climate CHange

'State of the Climate' Report: 2015 Set Multiple Records

2015 was basically the Michael Phelps of climate change, according to a new report.

August 5, 2016 - Pacific Standard

To Bring Water to the Village, Teach Villagers About Water

In Nicaragua, villagers' access to freshwater resources is sometimes impeded by a gap in coordination between the self-governing indigenous communities present there. WaterAid worked with locals in one village to change just that.

August 1, 2016 - Doggerel

Commuter Traffic

Congestion Pricing Requires a Careful Balance

Congestion pricing is an economic tool for a difficult, complicated problem, and must be calculated carefully to avoid unintended consequences.

August 1, 2016 - Neighborhood Effects

Fatal Combination: Hot-Air Balloons and High-Tension Power Lines

Sixteen people enjoying a hot-air balloon ride in Central Texas early Saturday morning lost their lives in a fiery death after the balloon came into contact with high-tension power lines, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

August 1, 2016 - WFAA

ng1_3717

Global Economy: Less Energy Intensity, Less Carbon Intensity

Some good news from the fight against climate change.

July 31, 2016 - Climate Central

waterfront road in Paris transformed into pedestrian and lounging space

New Report Highlights the Many Benefits of Urban Walkability

"Cities Alive," an attractive new report by Arup, one of the world's largest engineering firm, highlights the significant social, economic, environmental and political benefits of walking.

July 30, 2016 - Cities Alive: Towards a Walking World

Niagara Falls

The 'Place Cells' in the Brain That Connect Memory to Location

New research in mice finds that the brain has two levels of memory connected to place—one for the task of creating mental maps, and another for recalling locations of emotional significance.

July 27, 2016 - New Scientist

Weaverville, CA

Google Maps Adds New 'Areas of Interest' Overlay

A new Google Maps redesign hopes to help make it easier to explore your surroundings. As with everything based on a mobile phone, the potential exists that it might also help ignore your surroundings.

July 26, 2016 - Google Maps

Colosseo in Rome as seen from Via dei Fori Imperiali on a Sunday when traffic is cut off.

Walkability Reaches a Tipping Point

With the rise of globalization, and urbanization, people are rethinking how cities should be structured in terms of transportation and mobility. Is it possible to reconfigure auto-centric cities into pedestrian-friendly spaces?

July 26, 2016 - Doggerel

Algae Bloom

Algae Blooms: There's More Where That Came From

Some are calling it the summer of Algae—from Utah to Florida to Australia, the world is encountering massive amounts of the stinky, dangerous sludge.

July 25, 2016 - Grist

Amazon Delivery

Transportation Catching Industry as the Leading Cause of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A new study from University of Michigan researchers tallies, and then compares, the greenhouse gas emissions from different sectors of the U.S. economy.

July 22, 2016 - Fast Co.Exist

Intersection

Macabre Ethical Dilemmas: Just the Tip of the Iceberg for Robot Cars

The ethical quandaries that will confront self-driving cars as they navigate the world pose a lot of difficult questions. Antonio Loro charts a course for answering these tough questions.

July 18, 2016 - Antonio Loro

US - Canadian Border at Chief Mountain

Borders From Above Are More Than Just Lines On A Map

International borders viewed from above show how different patterns of political, urban and agricultural development often collide.

July 18, 2016 - Medium

Bollards

Pedestrians Need Protection from Motor Vehicles Used as Deadly Weapons

As of press time on Friday, the death toll from the Nice Bastille Day massacre is 84, injuries exceeding 200, a record for an act of alleged terrorism committed by a single person. It also sets a record for death by the use of a motor vehicle.

July 16, 2016 - NBC News

Mexico City

Friday Eye Candy: A World Tour of Creative Crosswalks

Take a look at these creative crosswalks and add your own examples.

July 15, 2016 - The Guardian Cities

Straphangers

Mapping the World of Bacteria Alive in the World's Subways

A project launched several years ago in New York City is making its way to cities around the world—much like the bacteria that the world's billions of transit users transfer around the surfaces of subway trains, stations, and buses.

June 29, 2016 - Centre for Genomic Regulation

Coal Ash

Energy Agency Totals Annual Death Toll from Air Pollution at 6.5 Million

The study by the Paris-based International Energy Agency finds a direct connection to the energy industry. Credit goes to IEA executive director Fatih Birol for expanding the organization's mission beyond its traditional purpose, energy security.

June 29, 2016 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Pyramids of Giza

What 6,000 Years of Population Data Looks Like

We can now watch 6,000 years of urban settlements and movements unfold on our computer screens.

June 28, 2016 - The Guardian

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.

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.