- Digg

OR SHOULD WE SAY 'UNDER THE SCENES'

A Look Behind The Scenes At The Construction Of Mumbai's Subway

Transportation Infrastructure Cities World Video 1w

Once operational, the subway is expected to carry 1.6 million passengers each day — and provide a lot of relief to Mumbaikars who are tired of squeezing onto overcrowded commuter trains.

The New American Divide: Driving to Work Alone vs. Anything Else

citylab.com 1w

Data shows that differences in how Americans commute are baked into the country's economic and political geography.

THEY GO 'BOOM,' BUT NOT LIKE, 'BOOOOOOOM'

Yes, Manhole Explosions Happen About Once A Month In London, But No, You Shouldn't Worry Too Much

England Infrastructure Science Video 30 Oct 2018

The explanation behind London's rash of sewer surprises is actually pretty simple, and even a pyrotechnic's take on the phenomenon is only a big deal up close and in slow motion (which, this being a YouTube video, it is).

'ALMOST MAKES THE MTA LOOK GOOD'

Modern Rome Is Falling Into Ruins, And Its Mayor Is Fiddling

New York Magazine Infrastructure Cities World 30 Oct 2018

A city falls apart gradually, then suddenly. When a descending subway escalator in Rome accelerated last week, shoveling passengers into a writhing pile at the bottom, the lurch produced more than 20 literal injuries (a man lost his foot) and one glaring metaphor.

RESERVOIR SLOGS

What If The Only Way To Save Houston From Flooding Is To Destroy Part Of It?

Slate Magazine Cities Infrastructure Climate Change Real Estate Long Reads 31 Aug 2018

The story of a map, a bayou and hundreds of millions of dollars in development.

FOLLOW THE LEAD-ER

Will Anyone Be Held At Fault Over Flint?

citylab.com Cities Politics Policy Health Infrastructure 30 Aug 2018

As the Michigan city's water crisis drags on, the state's highest-ranking health official faces criminal charges. But he's still on the job.

UNDER THE OVERPASS

A Divided Neighborhood Comes Together Under An Elevated Expressway

nextcity.org Cities Human Nature Infrastructure Policy Culture 21 Aug 2018

Fifty years ago, New Orleans razed a thriving African-American business corridor to construct an elevated expressway. Now, the Claiborne Corridor community reimagines the space below as a hub of culture, commerce and play.

MONEY TO BURN

Can We Afford To Keep Rebuilding In The Line Of Wildfires?

earther.gizmodo.com Money Nature Infrastructure 21 Aug 2018

2017 was the costliest wildfire season in American history. The National Centers for Environmental Information estimates that were $18.4 billion in wildfire-related damages, including three separate California fires that topped $1 billion.

COOL, GREAT, AWESOME

A Wi-Fi-Enabled Appliance Botnet Could Bring The Power Grid To Its Knees

Ars Technica Infrastructure Internet 18 Aug 2018

But the increasing adoption of connected appliances (with many home appliances now coming with connectivity by default) and the difficulty of applying security patches to such devices make a Mirai-style botnet of refrigerators increasingly plausible, if not likely.

WHEN REDUNDANCIES ARE NOT ENOUGH

Engineer Analyzes The Cascade Of Failures That Led To The Genoa Bridge Collapse

Infrastructure Video Explainer 17 Aug 2018

"Bridges are dynamic structures. They need to be maintained. They are a machine."

LIKE REAL-LIFE KALEIDOSCOPES

Photos Of Utopian Sustainable Spaces In Singapore

PetaPixel Photos Architecture Nature Climate Change Cities Infrastructure World 17 Aug 2018

The Sustainable Singapore Movement is an ongoing effort by the island city-state to create an environmentally clean and beautiful home for future generations.

LET'S HOPE IT'S NOT AS ADDICTIVE

How Sanitation Is Following The Cell Phone Model

nautil.us Infrastructure Health Technology World 24 May 2018

Like mobile phones that have bypassed the need for a cabled telephone infrastructure, some engineers, designers and humanitarian workers argue not for better sewage systems, but for smarter toilets.

ONCE AGAIN, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

High Schoolers Pull Off Extremely Wholesome Senior Prank Using Bike-Share Program

Cities Cars Funny Infrastructure Fruits Of The Web 22 May 2018

The bar for senior pranks has been raised.

WIRELESS

What It's Like To Live In America Without Broadband Internet

Motherboard Internet Infrastructure Long Reads 17 Apr 2018

In every single state, a portion of the population doesn't have access to broadband, and some have no access to the internet at all.

PUMP POWER

The Hydraulic System That Tapped The Thames To Power London

99percentinvisible.org Histories England Infrastructure 17 Apr 2018

For nearly a century, a vast system of underground pipes run by the London Hydraulic Power Company pumped water to power hotels, shops, offices, mansion blocks, hotels, docks, factories and more.

Why New York City Stopped Building Subways

citylab.com 16 Apr 2018

Nearly 80 years ago, a construction standstill derailed the subway into its present crisis.

AND NO, 'INVENTING' BUSES WON'T FIX IT

Ride-Hailing Is Deepening Social And Economic Inequity In The US

Motherboard Uber Infrastructure Money Economics 12 Feb 2018

It’s making public transit worse.

It's Time to Make Every Road a Toll Road

Wired 12 Feb 2018

The gas tax is bad, and there's a better way forward.

NO SUBWAY, NO SUCCESS

How One Subway Closure In Queens Wrecked A Community

VICE Infrastructure Business Money New York City 11 Feb 2018

"When I tell you this is the worst thing I've seen in all my life, being in the business for 30+ years, owning since I was a kid, this is a disaster."

'WE'VE BEEN FORGOTTEN'

Hurricane Harvey And The Long Path To Recovery

theguardian.com Infrastructure 12 Feb 2018

Nearly six months after the storm, residents of a Texas town face red tape, long waits and "a gigantic housing crisis."