NYC stakeholders back plan to cut building energy use, carbon emissions

The Urban Green Council released a plan for a 20% reduction in energy use across the city's largest buildings by 2030.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 16, 2018

Robot learns to build, adapt using Lego models

Autodesk's BrickBot is programed to autonomously build from 3D models and could be a precursor to construction and manufacturing applications.

By Laurie Cowin • Aug. 13, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Water works: Preserving water amenity accessibility in cities

Cities understand how critical water is to the health and well-being of residents. But, in some cases, those amenities' futures are threatened.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 9, 2018

Advocates urge less 'victim-blaming,' better street designs to reduce pedestrian deaths

Representatives said the upwards trend in fatalities is troubling, and that cities should be more welcoming to all modes of transport to help get the issue under control.

By Chris Teale • Aug. 8, 2018

Sidewalk Labs teams with design firm for 'Dynamic Street' model

Roads could be reconfigured to accommodate extra traffic during busy hours, then transitioned into open space using a modular, reconfigurable pavement system.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 7, 2018

How to embrace office green spaces for better employee engagement

Office plants and composting programs — good places to start — may gradually evolve into huge cultural changes for employers.

By Pamela DeLoatch • Aug. 3, 2018

The students bringing smart city concepts to life with ‘unconstrained creativity’

At NYU's 2018 Science of Smart Cities program, founder Ben Esner lauded students' efforts to build innovations like climate-measuring drones and smart bridge technology.

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 2, 2018

DC is home to the most green roofs in North America

The city has installed nearly double the green roof square footage as the next in line, according to the industry association Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 30, 2018

Leaders wrestle with affordable housing crisis after ‘years wandering in the wilderness’

At the National Alliance for Ending Homelessness conference, officials called for more investment as cities start to step up and the federal government steps away.

By Chris Teale • July 25, 2018

NYC unveils $100M plan to modernize freight distribution system

As infrastructure across the U.S. is crumbling, New York City's plan aims for an end-to-end solution to its aging freight distribution. 

By Barry Hochfelder • July 19, 2018

Smart cities: Can we afford them?

Tech and infrastructure advancements won’t come cheap to most cities. Many decisions will boil down to how fast do we want to do this, and where do we want to start?

By Todd Thibodeaux • July 18, 2018

Behind the curtain

A cleaner and more sustainable city is smart. And one common strategy many cities have identified as essential to achieving their sustainability goals involves electrifying their medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleets, including buses.

July 12, 2018

For World Cup host cities, a boon or a boondoggle?

As the U.S. prepares for the 2026 edition alongside Canada and Mexico, those in the running to stage games emphasize existing infrastructure and partnerships.

By Chris Teale • July 11, 2018

NYC launches interactive map showing progress on city projects

The initiative is intended to provide transparency in several neighborhoods the city is rezoning, including East New York, East Harlem and Downtown Far Rockaway.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 3, 2018

5 of the world's most eco-friendly building materials

A number of hidden factors, including the transportation involved and how they hold up in certain climates, contribute to materials' eco-friendliness. 

By Katie Pyzyk • July 2, 2018

Bike-share company Zagster unveils parking for dockless bikes, scooters

CEO Tim Ericson said the new platform should help cities manage the clutter problem that has so far dogged the rollout of the new technology.

By Chris Teale • June 29, 2018

LA City Council advances plan to change development rules near transit stations

The proposal could add more than 10,000 jobs and 6,000 new apartments, and follows a controversial state bill to add density near public transportation that the city opposed.

By Chris Teale • June 29, 2018

Creative crosswalks: Street art meets safety enhancement

Bright colors and unique designs in crosswalks can create a sense of community and enhance pedestrian connectivity, all the while keeping people and drivers safe.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 26, 2018

Nearly 40 San Francisco buildings at risk in earthquake

The city has been working to upgrade potentially at-risk structures, but it remains a hefty effort given how many need retrofits, according to a new federal report.

By Jason Plautz • June 18, 2018

USDOT announces $2.1B of grants

The agency authorized almost $1.5 billion for infrastructure and $677 million for airport improvements nationwide.

By Kim Slowey • June 14, 2018

Domino's to fund pothole repairs for city streets

The "Paving for Pizza" program aims to protect pizza deliveries from being jolted on rough roads, but could represent an interesting P3 opportunity for municipalities.

By Chris Teale • June 13, 2018

Japan-Thailand Millennium Town plans to foster a smarter community

The planned smart city outside Bangkok promises to use Japanese retirees to educate local people, as well as have futuristic technology like maglev trains.

By Chris Teale • June 11, 2018

Panelists share what works (and what doesn’t) in urban modernization

Leaders from around the world took the stage at the Chicago Forum on Global Cities to discuss how cities become economic powerhouses.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 8, 2018

Experts call for congestion pricing on all vehicles in NYC

Panelists at an event in Brooklyn said a surcharge would help fund modernization and rebuilding efforts on the subway, and make the streets safer for all users by encouraging less car usage.

By Chris Teale • June 8, 2018

RFP for affordable modular housing a first in NYC

New York City is pushing smaller, module-based units as a way to build faster and with more cost efficiency.

By Kim Slowey • June 5, 2018