World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

10 Ways Cities Are Turning Back Time

It's back to the future for global cities, now that we've realized what a mess the 20th century was.

November 20, 2013 - Future Cities

Technology, Talent, and Tolerance: The Creative Culture

Creativity isn’t a theory about hipsters and the latte set. The key driver of a resilient economy is the same thing that binds us as humans – our shared creativity. Hazel Borys reviews Richard Florida's latest creative culture ideas.

November 20, 2013 - PlaceShakers

Are Diverse Communities Discordant With Cohesive Ones?

A study utilizing simulations of more than 20 million virtual “neighborhoods” finds a negative relationship between cohesion and diversity. The findings could alter how we understand and build social capital within neighborhoods and across cities.

November 19, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Why Your Solar Panels Are Likely Facing the Wrong Direction

To maximize sun exposure and electricity generation during peak times, solar panels installed in the northern hemisphere shouldn't face south, as conventional wisdom dictates, but west, finds a new study.

November 19, 2013 - Quartz

Six Innovative Efforts to Improve Road Safety

In honor of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, held yesterday, The Guardian highlighted innovative projects that are making the world's roads safer.

November 18, 2013 - The Guardian

Injustice Becomes a Focus of Climate Negotiations

In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the unequal impacts of climate change have become a focus of discussions at an international climate conference in Warsaw. The most vulnerable (often poor) nations are demanding compensation from developed ones.

November 18, 2013 - The New York Times

Record U.S. Oil Production, but How Long Will it Last?

A milestone was reached last month in oil imports: For the first time in 18 years, the U.S. produced more oil than it imported thanks to fracking and reduced consumption. But according to a new IEA report, shale oil growth will peak within a decade.

November 15, 2013 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Visualizing the Earth's Vanishing Forests

A new study appearing in the journal Science details the devastating loss of 1.5 million million square kilometers of forest across the globe between 2000 and 2012 and presents a stunning visualization of the data using high-resolution maps.

November 15, 2013 - The Washington Post

Explaining Traffic Waves - the Likely Cause for Your Congested Commute

For many drivers, the only experience more aggravating than being stuck in traffic is not being able to figure out why there's a jam in the first place. An explanation of the phenomenon called "Traffic Waves" may help ease the aggravation.

November 15, 2013 - KQED: The Lowdown

Expanding Cycling Infrastructure Is a Snap With Lego-Like Bike Lanes

Somewhere between the universally-despised sharrow and the rare separated cycle track sits Copenhagenize Flow, a lego-like set of tiles that allows cities to experiment with expanded bike infrastructure at low cost and low commitment.

November 14, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

Solutionism in Urban Data Science

Shannon Mattern surveys the new wave of urban data science projects and argues that practitioners are trending toward an obsession with data-for-data’s-sake and an idolization of method.

November 14, 2013 - Places Journal

Big Data Having Big Impact on City Operations

In the future, big data is supposed to help cities improve and optimize their operations. According to a new report that documents the innovative uses of data and evidence by seven major cities, the future is now.

November 13, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

The Super Typhoon and Climate Change

The head of the Philippines delegation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Warsaw suggests climate change is responsible for Typhoon Haiyan. Is he right? Quartz investigates the connection.

November 12, 2013 - Quartz

Amsterdam Will Harvest Urine for Green Roofs

As part of a campaign for International Water Week, Amsterdam's water corporation, Waternet, will use struvite from donated urine in order to fertilize the city's green roofs.

November 10, 2013 - Future Cities

How Can We Provoke "Peak Waste"?

Because city residents generate four times as much trash as rural residents, the rapid growth of the world's cities is leading to the rapid growth of the world's garbage. A new study examines future trash troubles and potential solutions.

November 8, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

How a Polar Meltdown Would Reshape the Planet's Coastlines

While we won't live to see it, humanity's carbon emissions could one day melt all of the ice on Earth. National Geographic's interactive map shows how the world's coastlines would change when sea levels rise 216 feet. Say goodbye to Florida.

November 8, 2013 - National Geographic

What's in a Neighborhood?

Tom Vanderbilt examines the word “neighborhood,” a term "frequently invoked yet seldom analyzed". He traces attempts to define, redefine, strengthen and weaken the concept in modern urbanism. Is it obsolete or more important than ever?

November 8, 2013 - The Wilson Quarterly

Top 20 Weird & Wonderful Urban Bridges

Though meant to unite, bridges can be divisive structures. What should a bridge really be? Does clever design matter, or is it all about function? Here are 20 bridges from around the world that stand out as interesting, if not always functional.

November 7, 2013 - Future Cities

urban planners look at Biloxi plans

What Is Planning?

By analyzing the areas of expertise and interests of 851 undergraduate and graduate planning faculty members, Tom Sanchez investigates what planning is, what it is not, and what it could be.

November 6, 2013 - Thomas Sanchez

Stunning Photos of Earth From Space

A collection of satellite photos reveals the planet's beauty and vulnerability from threats such as desertification, sprawl, and pollution.

November 5, 2013 - Wired

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.