World
Global issues, U.N., etc.
Report Says Sprawl Will Offset Any Reductions In Auto Emissions
A new report from the Urban Land Institute says that even with increased fuel efficiency in cars, an increasing rate of vehicle miles traveled due to sprawling development will counteract any reductions in emissions.
How Experiences In The Virtual World Can Improve Real Life
In this column, urban planning professor Justin Hollander asserts that online games such as “Second Life” have the potential to enable genuine public participation in civic affairs.
World's Financial Centers Thrive Despite Tech Boom
Predictions that our high-tech age of connectivity and wire-free communications would drain big cities, the world's financial centers remain heavily populated and their economies are thriving.
World Ag At Risk From Global Warming
World agricultural productivity could decline between 3-16% by 2080. Developing countries will experience the biggest drop.
Municipal Wi-Fi Networks: Easier Said Than Done
After a flurry of announcements regarding blanketing cities with free Internet access, the actual forecast for these wireless networks looks rather bleak.
Outsourcing Pollution: The Dirty Side Of Clean Alternatives
Physicist and renowned environmental leader, Vandana Shiva, talks about globalization, emissions trading, and environmental justice.
The Most Polluted Places In The World
This article from Time magazine looks at the 10 most polluted places in the world, the types and causes of the pollution, and the number of people affected.
Will China Follow In America's Footsteps?
Scientists who studied pollution from a pair of major cities in both the U.S. and China urge the rapidly developing nation to learn from the past environmental mistakes in the U.S.
Do 'Carbon Offsets' Really Work?
Is the idea of buying "voluntary carbon offsets" to become carbon neutral more hype than solution?
Traffic Signals That Predict And Prevent Crashes
High-tech traffic signals have been developed that predict and warn drivers of possible collisions.
Running Low On Farmable Land
The quality of the world's soil is rapidly diminishing and many scientists are concerned that by 2050 there will not be enough arable land to grow the food to feed the steadily growing population.
Harnessing Creativity To Redevelop The City
Der Spiegel interviews urban researcher Charles Landry about how cities can harness their creative classes and stay competitive in the global market.
Mobility A Crucial Element For Economic Development
In looking at both developed and developing countries, this article argues that mobility and transportation infrastructure are essential to successful economic development.
A More Manageable And Successful Future In 'Second Cities'
Many world cities are undergoing successful rebirths, but many see the smaller so-called "second cities" as the true hubs for long-term economic success.
The Automated Future Of Transportation
Cars and shipping will all be controlled automatically and traffic jams will be a thing of the past, according to a new book that posits a futuristic transit system within 50 years.
Food Farmers Or Energy Farmers?
As global demand for ethanol and other plant-based energy sources booms, farmers have to make the choice between feeding people or feeding their energy habits. Many predict they will increasingly opt for the latter, causing food shortages worldwide.
Is 'Green Architecture' Really Sustainable?
Geoff Manaugh observes that truly sustainable architecture goes unnoticed while designs that end up "ornamentalizing sustainability" get the "green" label and the media's attention.
Will Architects And Planners Fail The World's Urban Dwellers?
With rapid urbanization overtaking the world, experts worry that planners and architects are too few and lack experience to tackle the coming challenge.
Environmental Protection Through Cap-And-Trade
As carbon trading systems gain notoriety as successful methods of protecting those natural resources that are good at sequestering the harmful emission, some see a bright future for similar cap-and-trade systems to preserve nature for its benefits.
An Introduction To Green Roofs
This article from Ecogeek offers an introduction to green roofs, and shares pictures of some existing green roofs and some ambitious projects in the works.
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
