Shows
Open During ConstructionAutonomy (Part 2 of 2)The Plangineers engage experts Sven Beiker and Gary Hsueh to explore the world of autonomous vehicles. Dr. Sven Beiker is Managing Director of Silicon Valley Mobility Gary Hsueh is Director of Mobility Programs at Prospect Silicon Valley In part 2 of this 2-part interview, Michelle and Rob continue their conversation with Sven and Gary to discuss some implications and possibilities of autonomous vehicle uptake. Sven and Gary were kind enough to call in from across the country so we thank our listeners for understanding some of the sound challenges we faced, but k...2020-04-0925 min
Open During ConstructionAutonomy (Part 1 of 2)The Plangineers engage experts Sven Beiker and Gary Hsueh to explore the world of autonomous vehicles. Dr. Sven Beiker is Managing Director of Silicon Valley Mobility Gary Hsueh is Director of Mobility Programs at Prospect Silicon Valley In part 1 of this 2-part interview, Michelle and Rob engage with Sven and Gary who break down the basics of "Automated Connected Electric & Shared" vehicles, or ACES as referred to in the industry. Sven and Gary were kind enough to call in from across the country so we thank our listeners for understanding some...2020-04-0928 min
Open During ConstructionIndy Johar talks Future Cities CanadaIndy Johar, Visionary, is co-founder of Project 00, Dark Matter Labs, as well as multiple social ventures in England. While doing all of this, he also works with large global multinationals and institutions to support their transition to a positive Systems Economy. In this discussion, Indy explains the necessity of the "boring" revolution to equip our cities with the tools for the future.2019-08-3123 min
Open During ConstructionOlivia Labonte talks Future Cities CanadaOlivia Labonte, Executive Director of Young Diplomats of Canada, talks about grassroots youth engagement. Olivia, an economist with a passion for global youth advocacy and sustainable cities, distills ideas from the Canada at 100,000,000 panel. She shares insights from her work as Executive Director of Young Diplomats of Canada, a national non-profit organization focused on creating spaces for young people to engage at the highest levels of decision-making.2019-05-0618 min
Open During ConstructionDerek Ballantyne talks Future Cities CanadaDerek brings his extensive experience in the development and management of housing to answer our questions on the topic. We talk about the merits of piloting policy in real-life versus the pitfalls of policy from the boardroom, and discuss takeaways from the Future Cities Canada Summit 'Housing for All' panel.2019-04-0517 min
Open During ConstructionFang-Jui Chang talks Future Cities CanadaFang shares insights from her experiences leading workshops and meetings that aim to tackle diverse social issues. The aim of her work is to deal with cross-government issues and enhance a better organisational culture from inside to outside of the government.2019-03-2214 min
Open During ConstructionClaire Hicks talks Future Cities CanadaClaire Hicks, Program Manager for Future Ready at WSP Canada, shares successes in sustainability. Future Ready is WSPs global innovation program, encouraging staff and clients to see the future more clearly and design for it today. Claire strives to support teams to deliver resilient, sustainable and people-centred project solutions that are prepared for tomorrow's world. After listening to her discussion, read more about her work here.2019-02-2613 min
Open During ConstructionLeah Lawrence talks Future Cities Canada Leah Lawrence is a lifelong advocate for engineering, entrepreneurship and the environment. The President and CEO of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) shares behind-the-scenes insights on technology and how 'change management' can be about 'change expectation.' Check her out in 'The Future of Business' panel discussion at the Future Cities Summit.2019-02-1016 min
Open During ConstructionGeoff Cape talks Future Cities CanadaGeoff Cape, is the founder and CEO of Evergreen. Since being founded in 1991, Evergreen has evolved into a national organization focused on integrating people, natural and built worlds, turning spaces into great places. On-site at the inaugural Future Cities Canada Summit, Geoff talks about how lessons learned at the Evergreen Brick Works site can inform city-building.2019-01-1513 min
Open During ConstructionDesmond Cole talks Future Cities CanadaDesmond Cole, award-winning journalist, activist and author, speaks to the Plangineers on the heels of his opening keynote at the Future Cities Canada Summit, held November 7-9, 2018 at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto. Click here to see his intriguing presentation. He points to segregation within the City of Toronto and encourages city builders to similarly call out and use the right language to address what he's seeing. His first book, entitled "The Skin We're In" will be published in 2019.2018-12-1822 min
Open During ConstructionFuture Cities Canada SummitJo Flatt, Senior Lead of Policy & Partnerships at Evergreen speaks to us about the Future Cities Canada Summit. Future Cities Canada is a new national collaborative that aims to accelerate urban innovation to transform cities for the benefit of us all. The Summit takes place from November 7-9, 2018 at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto.2018-10-3113 min
Open During ConstructionBloom Where You're PlantedAlex Lenarduzzi, Water Resources Engineer at Conservation Halton shares her thoughts on the role of the natural environment and how it co-exists with the urban environment. We talk about: Differences and similarities between practice in the public and private sector The lingering impacts of extreme weather and the human stories around such events Alex's perception of the word "environment" as the "natural environment," rather than "urban environment" Urbanites exploring the natural world Seeing the City from the escarpment, or from the water Working in a...2018-09-2618 minOpen During ConstructionFrom the Archives: Good or Good Enough? In our second episode ever, “Good, or good enough?” Michelle and Rob discuss how paradigms were broken for the revolutionary Deep Lake Water Cooling system. Our ancestors first form of “district energy,” sharing fire in a cave Vancouver’s Olympic village district energy system Sustainable development at the Regent Park Revitalization Discussing Enwave Toronto’s Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC) Baffin Island Mining project Creativity is just ingenuity, applied. The DLWC was a showcase project for Toronto, and Enwave. Bringing along others so when we have the answer...2018-08-2823 minOpen During ConstructionThe Onion of DiscontentThe Plangineers talk about the illusions and realities of public consultation. Rob explains the methods by which we gather and consider various points of consideration when undertaking city-building initiatives. Dialogue revolves around engaging early and often. Michelle shares the pizza analogy of consultation. We talk about change management and the ADKAR model of: - Awareness - Desire - Knowledge - Ability - Reinforcement2018-07-2416 minOpen During ConstructionWe're All SettlersSheila Boudreau, Senior Landscape Architect at Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, shares stories of teaching, engaging and opening up opportunities for indigenous youth. Sheila speaks to us about: How her experiences have been interwoven to shape what and how she teaches Taking care of the forest in a free-range upbringing Why she has embarked upon opening doors for indigenous youth The importance of the Kairos blanket exercise The natural connection of earth and land to indigenous stewardship Making connections with programs that support young women, like...2018-06-2626 minOpen During ConstructionInspiredThe Plangineers, Michelle & Rob, share how their professional fuel often comes from outside their professional lives. We talked about: Voracious reading Understanding people How Ray Dalio's "Idea meritocracy" resonated with Rob Thinking Fast & Slow, in Rob’s case about Floods and Flow Finding the strength to put down a book Michelle’s reflection about how world changing design comes from play, as brought forward in Steven Johnson’s Wonderland How humans are inspired by the things we do in our leisure time Handling social...2018-05-0123 minOpen During ConstructionRules of EngagementHelen Noehammer, Director of Transportation & Infrastructure Planning at the City of Mississauga shares her take on pink-handled tools and how soft skills help alongside the hard skills in the engineer’s toolbox. Helen talks to us about... How "a little bit of everything" adds up to a lot What happens when "life happens" Changes in the representation of men and women in the engineering industry Using "The Velvet Hammer" Lessons from customer service at Canadian Tire Dealing with angry mobs using humour The bi...2018-03-2728 minOpen During ConstructionThe People's (Food) CourtLesley Pavan, Director of Design and Development at the City of Mississauga shares her insights into the lifestyle choices on offer in the rapidly urbanizing city where she both works and lives. Lesley speaks to us about... Her path from humble roots on the farm, to geographer and through a municipal journey to her role as Director. Mississauga's evolution from post-war migration right to being nearly built-out with dialogue on some crucial elements along the way Brownfield redevelopment lands such as St.Lawrence Starch, Inspiration Lakeview and the Imperial Oils Lands...2018-02-0629 minOpen During ConstructionPower to the SheepleThe Plangineers talk about ingrained falsehoods and the challenge of living up to our professional duty Factual review of engineering data is found here relating to the fact that storm intensities have not increased Rob shared data and engaged specific outlets to expose falsehoods. In this article from Canadian Underwriter, editors consulted Environment and Climate Change Canada to correct the insurance industry Weather Story statement. Here is an example of CBC reporting with an insurance industry statement on storm frequency that was corrected after consulting Environment and Climate Change Canada. Rob c...2018-01-0223 minOpen During ConstructionLike MillenialsA “Millenial” is defined as someone born between 1981 - 1997. Our Millenial Planner, Michelle, and Gen X-er Engineer Rob, share their perspectives on the topic of the “Millenial experience,” and challenge the current narrative. Age-ism is a recurring and troubling theme as is the reality of how it may be ever-present, but simply being dealt with differently in an era of tech-savviness. Michelle quotes transportation planner Sam Schwartz and asks, “It’s not about asking ‘How do we plan for Millenials, but how do we plan like Millenials?” Rob points out the two different types of people...2017-11-1424 minOpen During ConstructionThe Day After Tomorrow?The Plangineers talk about how the input of technical experts can help round out storytelling to add the "why" to the "who cares?" (Sorry for the confusion in the intro...this is actually episode #5, you're right.) Reporting on the GO Train flooding of 2013 may have exaggerated the frequency of this occurrence Check out Rob's CityFloodMap blog post on the matter Discussing the context of numbers and the value of infographics How technical input to the media can add the "why" to the spice of storytelling as well as the...2017-07-1620 minOpen During ConstructionArtWorkX re-capCheck out what went down at ArtWorkX by clicking here2017-06-0400 minOpen During ConstructionDancing About InfrastructureEpisode #4: Dancing About Infrastructure Michelle and Rob reflect on the artistry that reveals our invisible services and why these reminders are an important part of our urban existence Talking about music, is like dancing about architecture. But we’ll try dancing about infrastructure anyway Older underground sewers are brick works of art like the photo shown by clicking here of the Garrison Creek storm sewer Aesthetic inspirations for the Herb Gray Parkway pedestrian bridges Is the River Longing? The beauty of water treatment, as seen through the RC...2017-05-0824 minOpen During ConstructionA Woman's Place is in the...At the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Ontario, we ask is there a "woman's place" in the Plangineering space? Ontario became the fifth province in Canada to grant women the right to vote on April 12, 1917. This came following more than half a century of activism. Discussing how the controversial dialogue between Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses was storied. Recognizing areas of internal strength and vulnerability. Statistics on women’s representation in engineering from the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering Where the engineering information gap may be? -o...2017-04-0824 minOpen During ConstructionGood or Good EnoughEpisode #2: Good, or good enough? Michelle and Rob, our Plangineers, discuss how paradigms were broken for the revolutionary Deep Lake Water Cooling system. Our ancestors first form of “district energy,” sharing fire in a cave Vancouver’s Olympic village district energy system Sustainable development at the Regent Park Revitalization Discussing Enwave Toronto’s Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC) Baffin Island Mining project Creativity is just ingenuity, applied. The DLWC was a showcase project for Toronto, and Enwave. Bringing along others so when we have the...2017-03-1323 minOpen During ConstructionPlangineersIn the debut podcast, Michelle and Rob talk about what inspired them to urban planning and engineering and why the bridge between their practices is shorter than we think. This month, we talked about: Urban dictionary reference to Plangineer The three pillars of planning: Public Health, Legislation & Architecture Rob's toothpick bridge Discussing how, "Form follows function" The curious case of building the Sydney Opera House Zooming-in versus zooming-out Engineering the Windsor-Essex Parkway Muneef’s take-away: Thinking inward versus outward Ro...2017-02-0720 min