World

Global issues, U.N., etc.

8 Ways to Sustainably Manage Stormwater

From permeable paving to green roofs, a number of cost-effective and sustainable strategies have emerged for managing water closer to where it falls, rather than directing it into pipes. SPUR explains 8 promising tools for managing stormwater.

September 14, 2013 - SPUR Blog

An image of a 3D city block generated by ESRI CityEngine software

Build A 3D City Model Within Minutes

ESRI's CityEngine software enables 3D modeling of urban environments. The forthcoming version of the software will enable developers to use the 3D city modeling technology in their own software.

September 13, 2013 - ComputerWorld

Study Finds Food Waste Is Third-Largest Greenhouse Gas Source

A new study from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization found that the 1.3 billion tons of food wasted every year make it one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

September 12, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Are We There Yet? A Status Update on the Cities of the Future

PlanIT Valley, Masdar City, Songdo - the names of these bold visions elicit past promises of a smart and sustainable future. Eric Jaffe rounds up the latest news on the progress of the world's new urban utopias.

September 11, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Smiling couple on a blanket in a park in Denmark

What Makes Nordic Countries So Happy?

The second United Nations' World Happiness Report shows that the world is becoming a happier place with 60 of the 130 countries analyzed improving. What is going on in the 30% of countries, including the United States, where happiness is declining?

September 11, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

Story Steroids Inflate the World's Tallest Buildings

It's a scandal fit for an Olympic track and field event or the Tour de France. Performance enhancing features such as spires and other non-occupiable "vanity height" elements are skewing the ranking of the world's tallest buildings.

September 11, 2013 - Quartz

ASLA Assembles Reservoir of Resources on Health Benefits of Nature

For years, science has been catching up to the intuitive wisdom that spending time in, or adjacent to, nature has physical and mental health benefits. The ASLA has collected a trove of this research in one easy to navigate website.

September 11, 2013 - ASLA

Is U.N. Panel Being Overly Conservative with Climate Change Predictions?

As one of the world's most respected voices on climate change prepares the final draft of its latest report on the warming planet, a debate is playing out behind the scenes as to whether it is intentionally downplaying the potential impacts.

September 10, 2013 - The New York Times

Hero or Tyrant? The 'Inimitable Orbit" of Zaha Hadid

Rowan Moore profiles Zaha Hadid, the polarizing architect who's benefited exceedingly from the global appeal of "iconic" architecture. Has the thrust of her pioneering early work been lost amid the astonishing growth of her practice?

September 9, 2013 - The Guardian

The Mixed Blessing of Hosting a World Expo

Some of the world's iconic landmarks -- like the Eiffel Tower and Montreal's Biosphere -- have been borne from world's expositions. Expos can highlight cities' progress and offer an economic boost, but accompanying costs can overshadow the benefits.

September 8, 2013 - The New York Times

Satellite PIcture of Hurricane Sandy

NOAA Report Links Extreme Weather To Climate Change

A report by NOAA & UK's Met Office says climate change may have contributed some of the extreme weather events in 2012.

September 7, 2013 - The Guardian

Red transmilenio bus stopped at station in Bogota

10 Most Innovative Sustainable Cities Recognized

Siemens and C40 have announced the winners of the inaugural City Climate Leadership Awards, recognizing the global cities demonstrating leadership and innovation in fighting climate change across ten separate categories.

September 7, 2013 - Fast Company Co.Exist

App To Warn You When You Are About To Be Hit By A Car

Carmakers are developing technologies to alert drivers and pedestrians if they are about to collide.

September 6, 2013 - The Car Connection

Why Cities Should Aim Beyond Carbon Neutrality

Keynote at Future of Cities Forum conference argued that carbon neutrality is not enough, He urged cities to adopt regenerative urban development that mimic natural processes and actively improve the environment.

September 6, 2013 - Future Cities

A Never-Ending Map Of Imaginary Cities

Artist spends decades creating an always-growing hand-drawn paper map of an imaginary place. Development is determined by drawing a random card from a custom deck of cards.

September 5, 2013 - Visual News

Google's Photo Share Takes You Where It's Street View Cannot Go

Android app enables users with smartphones to take panoramic photos of remote places to share on Google Photo Sphere.

September 5, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

New York Skyline Fisheye

How To Make A City Great

Respected consulting firm McKinsey & Company offers a detailed report on the steps city leaders around the world take to transform their cities into great places to live and work.

September 5, 2013 - McKinsey & Company

What's Behind Bike Share's Skyrocketing Growth?

Earth Policy Institute's bike share charts allow readers to compare bike share programs in the U.S., now numbering 34 with 18,000 bikes. As impressive as it is, a comparison with bike share programs abroad put the numbers in perspective.

September 4, 2013 - Earth Policy Institute

Cargo Cult Urbanism?

In many exurban locations, planners and developers are often enticed by the idea of building urban environments, but without the necessary markets to support them, argues a real estate consultant.

September 3, 2013 - Baltimore Business Journal

An image of a parkcycle on the street

Have Parkcycle, Will Travel!

Ever wish your nearby park could follow you throughout the city, providing open space wherever you might be? An artist and landscape architect have created Parkcycle Swarm, a modular system of 'human powered mobile gardens'.

September 2, 2013 - THE DIRT

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.