Technology
Citizens Use Second Life For Public Input On Design
A residents' association in Paris is inviting locals to share their ideas about redeveloping a garden and public space in the center of the city by creating them in the virtual reality world Second Life.
Massive Flooding Drowns Online World
To raise awareness of global warming, a massive sea level change was staged in the online virtual reality world "Second Life" that flooded areas such as London and Tokyo -- similar to what scientists predict could occur within this century.
Free Internet In The Rainforest
The Brazilian government plans to provide free satellite internet access to indigenous rainforest communities in an effort to improve communication between the groups and authorities with the goal of protecting the rainforests.
Overnight Recovery For New Orleans In Google Map
Google has replaced current maps of New Orleans with pre-Katrina satellite images on its Google Maps website.
Homeowners' Association Thwarts Efforts At Energy Conservation
An Arizona home owner's association fines a resident for installing a solar-powered heater arguing that the appearance of the device violates the subdivision's deed restrictions.
Bush Administration Puts Money Behind Implementing Congestion Pricing
In one of the clearest directives to states yet, an FHWA official stated publicly that they want to award money to highway departments to actually implement -- not simply study -- congestion pricing.
The Future of Cities As Told In Belgrade
Bruce Sterling gives an insightful tour around the city of Belgrade and explores the transformation and pressures brought about by globalization.
Peer-to-Peer Networking... For Traffic
Just like it's possible to share files using peer-to-peer networking, a German research group envisions enabling cars and bikes to share useful traffic and road condition information with other vehicles.
Ridesharing With The 'Net
An Internet networking site intended to help people organize rideshares is being unveiled in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, and many local officials hope the ease of arranging rides via the Internet will encourage more shared rides.
How Free Wi-Fi Could Change The City
Will Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plan to provide free wireless access really benefit Los Angeles?
Google's Virtual City
A detailed 3D model of Berlin has been added to the program Google Earth, enabling visitors to "walk" through the virtual city and many of its historic sites and buildings. The city and Google expect further integration, with virtual stores and more.
Architecture Goes Open Source
The recently launched Open Architecture Network uses Web 2.0 technology to get designers to share their ideas to benefit the neediest members of global society.
The World's Most Connected Cities
Daily Wireless offers a review of the most connected cities in the World. Only two (or five, depending on how you count) are in the US. Several cities might surprise you.
The Next Generation Of Billboards
Video billboards are coming to a town near you. But critics worry that these 'TVs in the sky' are a major safety hazard for motorists.
Recoverable Oil Supplies Are Growing, Not Peaking
Technology advances and oil prices above $50/barrel permit companies to extract far more oil from existing wells using secondary and tertiary recovery methods and target 'heavy' and other 'nonconventional' oil supplies as light oil reserves diminish.
Austin Permitting System Goes Online
Developers, neighborhood leaders and all interested parties will be able to track project approvals at every stage of the process.
The Architecture of Light and Sound Comes to Logan Airport
An architect sculpts ever-changing atmospheres with light and recorded sound. Everything from jungle birds to ocean breezes to wind chimes enhance the experience of the built environment.
Reality Hits A Virtual World
As a virtual world where anything goes grows up, it's problems are not so different from real world communities.
Unmanned Cars Ready To Navigate Traffic Within A Few Years?
The winners of last year's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) artificial intelligence road race claim that they'll have a car ready to navigate urban traffic in less than a year.
L.A. Also Looks To Create Ctiywide Wi-Fi Network
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced plans to create a citywide network providing free wireless Internet access. L.A. will join more than 300 cities nationwide that offer wireless access.
Pagination
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service