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Urban Planning

Urban, city, and town planning seek to inform land use, development, and transportation infrastructure to accommodate the needs of the community, often with the explicit goal of maximizing both economic vitality and overall quality of life. RAND helps to inform policymakers who plan long-term urban services and neighborhood design, from determining the public health implications of proximity to parklands or inner city waste abatement to the role of urban planning in nation-building efforts.

Commentary

Bargain-Hunting Robocars Could Spell the End for Downtown Parking: Cities Need to Plan Ahead Now

Imagine a scene from the near-future: You get dropped off downtown by a driverless car. You slam the door and head into your office or appointment. But then where does the autonomous vehicle go? It's a question that cities would be wise to consider now. Self-driving cars may be on the roads within the next decade or two.

Aug 29, 2019
Journal Article

Pathways to 2050: Scenarios for Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy

Climate change is among the most profound challenges of all time, and the private sector is an essential partner in any decarbonization pathway. Timely business leadership can help ensure choices that are beneficial for both companies and society as a whole.

Jun 4, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Research Handbook on Climate Change Adaptation Policy

This topical and engaging Research Handbook illustrates the variety of research approaches in the field of climate change adaptation policy in order to provide a guide to its social and institutional complexity.

Jun 4, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Evaluation of Walk and Bicycle Demand Modeling Practice

An evaluation of the current state of research and practice in regional pedestrian and bicycle demand modelling for both commute and noncommute trips. The results of the study were connected to planning needs and practice.

May 16, 2019
Essay

Resilience and Adaptation Strategies Can Address the Impacts of Climate Change

With climate change already generating storms, heat waves, and droughts beyond historical norms, local governments need to do more to prepare. A decisionmaking framework developed by RAND allows communities to stress-test ideas, weigh the trade-offs, and plan for a range of possible futures.

Feb 26, 2019
Report

Report

How can crowd behaviour modelling be used to prevent and respond to violence and antisocial behaviour at Qatar 2022?

This case study explores the potential for crowd behaviour modelling to inform crowd management strategies to minimise the risk of violent or antisocial behaviour taking place during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and to reduce harm if it does take place.

Dec 11, 2018
Multimedia

Wellbeing and Quality of Life in Cambridge

RAND Europe experts and Jane Paterson-Todd, Chief Executive of Cambridge Ahead, discuss the Quality of Life Survey, which aimed to understand what the typical employee of a Cambridge business feels about their quality of life. The research was commissioned by Cambridge Ahead, a business and academic member group dedicated to the successful growth of Cambridge and its region in the long term.

Sep 30, 2017
Multimedia

Santa Monica's Wellbeing Project

RAND experts and Santa Monica city officials discuss the Wellbeing Project, which aimed to evaluate overall community wellbeing and incorporate these results into city planning and governance.

Sep 29, 2017
Report

Urban Responses to Climate Change

More than 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in urban areas. Thus, cities lie at the epicenter of America's response to climate change. Analysis can inform how cities choose strategies and allocate resources.

Dec 7, 2016
Solution

Measuring Wellbeing to Help Communities Thrive

The city of Santa Monica wanted to incorporate wellbeing into city planning, policies, and programs. RAND researchers, as part of a team of experts, helped create a framework for measuring wellbeing and applying the findings to city planning.

Nov 22, 2016
Report

City of Los Angeles Neighborhood Parks: Research Findings and Policy Implications (2003–2015)

This report summarizes more than a decade of research on how well neighborhood parks in Los Angeles support physical activity. Between 2003 and 2015, researchers observed 83 parks and fielded nearly 28,000 surveys of park users and local residents.

Nov 1, 2016
Commentary

The Olympic Legacy — What Can Rio Learn?

Rio will spend $14.4 billion on the Olympics. Like other host cities, it hopes to achieve an “Olympic legacy” to ensure that this investment pays dividends after the games and provides long-term economic, social, sporting, and cultural benefits.

Aug 3, 2016
Journal Article

Journal Article

CicLavia: Evaluation of Participation, Physical Activity and Cost of an Open Streets Event in Los Angeles

Increasing the frequency of events in which major streets are open only to pedestrians and bicyclists would increase physical activity in urban areas.

Jun 30, 2016
Commentary

Expo Line Could Enhance Wellbeing in Santa Monica

On May 20, the long-awaited Metro Expo Line will begin service to Santa Monica. Viewing urban mobility as a key component of community wellbeing may be an instructive way to assess the impact of Expo and other infrastructure efforts.

May 6, 2016
Report

Autonomous Vehicle Technology: A Guide for Policymakers

Autonomous vehicle technology has the potential to significantly improve social welfare. This report addresses the numerous legislative, regulatory, and liability issues this technology will raise.

Mar 22, 2016
Essay

Learning from One City's Effort to Transform Community

RAND researchers have partnered with the city of Santa Monica, California to redefine not just how cities measure success, but how they assess their very purpose for being. This “Wellbeing Index” posits that cities can improve not just the safety and comfort of their residents, but also their happiness.

Mar 8, 2016
Report

Report

Quality of Life Indicators and Policy Strategies to Advance Sustainability in the Pearl River Delta

Proposes a system of quality of life indicators and identifies policy options to improve quality of life in the Pearl River Delta, a region of Guangdong Province in southeastern China.

Nov 6, 2015
Journal Article

Associations Between Neighborhood Alcohol Availability and Young Adolescent Alcohol Use

An investigation into the association between alcohol outlet density and adolescent alcohol use, including whether this association differed by sociodemographic characteristics.

Oct 20, 2015
Journal Article

Journal Article

Influence of the Built Environment on Pedestrian Route Choices of Adolescent Girls

We examined the influence of the built environment on pedestrian route selection among adolescent girls.

May 29, 2015
Commentary

Wellbeing Project to Weave Science Into Government Decisions

Wellbeing is about individuals having the skills and opportunity to live a meaningful life. There are countless things that cities do that either contribute or detract from that sense of meaning. Santa Monica's Wellbeing Project is working to fundamentally change how the government thinks about its citizens.

Apr 29, 2015

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RAND Topic:
Urban Planning

Topic Synonyms:
City Planning

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