World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

Study: Astounding Loss of Global Biodiversity in Last 40 Years

According to a newly released study by the World Wildlife Fund, the Zoological Society of London, and other NGOs, the world has lost half of its biodiversity, particularly in fresh water ecosystems and in developing nations.

October 7, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

'Keeping it Modern' to Research Conservation Solutions

The quest to preserve the masterpieces of modern architecture can also provide a model for preserving lesser-known construction from the 20th century. An initiative of the Getty Conservation Institute would achieve both goals.

October 6, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

End of the rainbow

Three Technological Innovations that Could End Asphalt as We Know it

As more municipalities are shutting off lights for energy savings, technological innovations are leading the way in new lighting and paving systems to make up for these economic and environmental constraints.

October 4, 2014 - Woodhouse

How the Sharing Economy Masks an Economic Crisis

Evgeny Morozov, a researcher on the political and social implications of technology, critiques the less-hyped implications of the emerging sharing economy.

October 4, 2014 - The Guardian

Trees

'Trees in Hard Landscapes': Guide for High-Performance Urban Infrastructure

A new cross-disciplinary report cites 32 case studies to offer practical solutions for integrating trees into civic spaces and surface car parks.

October 2, 2014 - Trees in Hard Landscapes: A Guide for Delivery

AT&T Planning for Growth of 'Connected Car' Market

AT&T is predicting a growth market for wholesale customer relationships with car manufacturers.

October 1, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

The Look and Feel of 'Inherently Urban'

Greek orators, current solution-based efforts, and 25 photographs remind us of the central role of human opportunity in the urban environment.

October 1, 2014 - The Huffington Post

Bangkok Thailand

Bloomberg Donates $125 Million for Urban Transportation

In his second global transportation donation meant to reduce death and injury from transportation, the former NYC mayor will take a decidedly urban focus by directing his foundation to select ten cities to receive $125 million, he announced Monday.

September 30, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

World population

New Grim Population Projection: 11 Billion People

So much for the conventional wisdom that world population would peak at 9 billion by 2050 and then decline. A new analysis shatters it, concluding population will rise to 11 or 12 billion by 2100, and possibly continue growing.

September 29, 2014 - The Guardian

Underground

Underground: The Next Frontier of Urbanization

With rapidly urbanizing metro areas, some cities are not looking to build up, or spread out, anymore. Rather they have begun to grow into underground spaces.

September 27, 2014 - Bloomberg News

Neuroscience and Landscape Architecture

Two new studies use EEG and fMRI to pinpoint which elements of urban parks and gardens induce brain activity associated with meditative states.

September 26, 2014 - Next City

Gov. Jerry Brown Touts California's Success at U.N. Climate Summit

Leonardo DiCaprio may have received top billing, but Jerry Brown spoke as well on the actions of the Golden State to combat climate change under his watch. Two days earlier, he signed six bills to increase sales of electric vehicles.

September 26, 2014 - Sacramento Bee

Friday Eye Candy: Life Finds A Way

NPR's Cities Project is crowdsourcing Instagram photos of nature creeping back into urban spaces.

September 26, 2014 - NPR Cities Project

6 Questions to Consider for Digital Public Engagement Planning

Digital engagement is the latest buzz when it comes to public participation. If your town is thinking about diving into the digital realm, consider these six questions.

September 25, 2014 - CommunityMatters

A New, Flexible System for Congestion Pricing

Researchers at MIT have developed a new, flexible congestion pricing system.

September 25, 2014 - Wired

The Importance of Inter-Urban Walkability

In his third "place-decoding" essay from France, Chuck Wolfe recalls all that we can learn from walking between settled places.

September 25, 2014 - The Huffington Post

What's Your 'Elevator Pitch' for Greener, Healthier Cities?

Kaid Benfield shares his placemaking pitch.

September 24, 2014 - NRDC Switchboard

Studies: 2013 Worldwide Carbon Emissions Higher than Ever

World leaders gathering today in New York City for a United Nations climate summit will be greeted by the news that the world is doing worse than ever in reducing carbon emissions.

September 23, 2014 - The Hill

A Cloud-Based Firewall to Stop Car-Data Hackers

Using a cloud-based computing setup, the third largest maker of luxury vehicles unveiled a new set of protections from hackers in the face of driverless travel.

September 19, 2014 - Bloomberg News

Transit Ridership

Study: Reducing Car Dependence Would Save $100 Trillion by 2050

A study examines the impact of a worldwide shift away from automobile infrastructure and finds a staggering amount of potential benefits by the year 2050.

September 18, 2014 - UC Davis

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.