Chapter 10 Outline and Supplement
Urbanization Environmental Science: Your World Your Turn
QUESTION 1: Review
_______ occurred as a result of deteriorating conditions in the inner cities
a) b) c) d) Movement to suburbs Movement to rural areas Development of inner cities Decentralization of city management
QUESTION 2: Review
Sprawl is defined as?
a) b) c) d) Increased resource extraction from rural areas Creating more livable cities The spread of low-density development outward from an urban center The spread of high-density development outward from an urban center
QUESTION 3: Review
Which statement is false, regarding cities?
a) They must import resources from far away b) They rely on large expanses of land for ecosystem services c) People living in cities feel more connected to nature, particularly since TV d) Cities tend to concentrate people, allowing for more efficient consumption of resources
QUESTION 4: Interpreting Graphs & Data
What major conclusion can be drawn from this graph on urbanization? a) Urbanization will decrease in more developed regions b) Urbanization will decrease in less developed regions c) Urbanization will increase most rapidly in less developed regions d) Urbanization will increase most rapidly in more developed regions
QUESTION 5 : Interpreting Graphs & Data
What result can be anticipated from the following type of development? a) Urban sprawl will increase b) Urban sprawl will decrease c) People will leave this area and move back to the city d) People will suffer stress from overcrowding
This will help you understand:
The scale of urbanization Urban and suburban sprawl Planning and land use
strategies Transportation options The role of urban parks Impacts and advantages of urban centers Sustainable cities
Central Case: Managing growth in Portland, Oregon
Sprawling development can ruin
communities Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs) separate urban from rural areas UGBs are a key to quality of life, but critics say its elitist Urban reserves will allow development Rural reserves will preserve farms and forests
Our urbanizing world*
Urbanization = the movement of people from rural to
urban areas
The greatest change of human society since its transition to a
sedentary agricultural lifestyle
Urban areas are growing rapidly The growing human population More people are moving to urban areas Urbanization began when agricultural surpluses
allowed people to leave their farms
Industrialization drove urbanization
Urbanization began when agricultural surpluses allowed people
to leave their farms
Creating specialized manufacturing professions, class structure, political
hierarchies, and urban centers
The industrial revolution spawned technology Creating jobs and opportunities in cities Increasing production efficiencies In 1950, 30% of the population was urban; today, its 49% Urban populations will double by 2050 Rural populations will decline by 16%
Trends in urbanization
In developed nations, urbanization has slowed People already live in cities and suburbs (smaller communities that ring cities)
Developing nations are urbanizing rapidly Searching for jobs, wars, ecological damage
Todays urban centers are unprecedented
Urban centers have been part of human culture for thousands
of years
The sheer scale of todays urban areas is unprecedented
Today, 20 cities are home to more than 10 million residents Tokyo, Japan, is home to 35 million people Mexico City and New York City, each hold 19 million
The majority of urban dwellers live in smaller cities
Urban growth has often been rapid*
American cities grew rapidly Due to increased trade Crowding and deteriorating
economic conditions occurred Residents moved to the suburbs Cities in southern and western states have grown People in northern and eastern states moved in search of warmer weather or more space
Urbanization in developing countries *
Most fast-growing cities are in developing
countries Less need for farm labor due to industrialization Wars, conflict, and ecological degradation Many of these cities face overcrowding, pollution, and poverty Their economic growth does not match their population growth
Factors influence the geography of urban areas
Climate, topography, and the
configuration of waterways help determine if a small settlement becomes a large city Many well-located cities are linchpins in trading networks
They funnel in resources from
agricultural regions Portland, Oregon; and Chicago, Illinois
Spatial patterns of urbanization change
Today, population centers are decentralizing Global commerce, jet travel, television, cell phones, the Internet Businesses dont need to be in urban areas Highway networks make it easier to commute
People have moved to suburbs*
By the mid-1900s, the U.S. and other countries had
accumulated more people than jobs Unemployment caused poverty and crime Affluent city dwellers moved to cleaner, lesscrowded suburbs Suburbs had advantages of space and privacy More space, better economic conditions, cheaper real estate, less crime, and better schools But natural space decreased with increasing suburbs People had to drive everywhere, increasing traffic congestion
What enabled people to move to suburbs?
Millions commute to downtown jobs from suburban bedroom
communities
Automobiles and an expanding road network
Abundant, cheap oil
Business could import and export resources, goods, and
waste using roads and fossil fuels
Helped by the U.S. governments development of the interstate highway
system
Jet travel, television, cell phones, the Internet allow easier
communication from any area
Sprawl*
Houses and roads supplant more than 2 million ha (2.5
million acres) of U.S. land per year Sprawl = the spread of low-density urban or suburban development outward from an urban center
Physical spread of development is greater than the rate of
population growth Phoenix, Arizonas land area grew 27 times larger, while its population grew 12 times larger between 1950 and 2002
People in suburbs take up more space
Each person in a suburban region takes up an average of 11 times as much space as does a resident of the city proper
Several types of development lead to sprawl
Sprawl has several causes*
Human population growth Per Capita Land Consumption: more land per person The amount of sprawl = the number of people added
to an area times the amount of land the average person occupies Interstate highways Technologies (telecommunications and the Internet) free businesses from dependence on the centralized infrastructure and workers can live wherever they desire People like their space and privacy Economists, politicians, and city boosters have encouraged it Growth is good
What is wrong with sprawl?
Transportation: people are forced to drive cars Pressure to own cars and drive greater distances Increases dependence on nonrenewable petroleum Lack of mass transit options More traffic accidents Pollution from sprawls effects on transportation Carbon dioxide, nitrogen- and sulfur-containing air pollutants Motor oil and road salt from roads and parking lots
What else is wrong with sprawl?
Health: promotes physical inactivity because driving
cars replaces walking
Increases obesity and high blood pressure
Land use: less land is left as forests, fields, farmland,
or ranchland
Loss of ecosystem services, recreation, aesthetic beauty,
wildlife habitat
Economics: drains tax dollars from communities For roads, water and sewer systems, electricity, police and fire services, schools in new developments
City and regional planning*
City planning = the professional pursuit that attempts to
design cities so as to maximize their efficiency, functionality, and beauty
Planners advise policymakers on development options, transportation
needs, public parks, etc.
Daniel Burnhams 1909 Plan of Chicago = the first thorough
plan for an American city
The Plan of Chicago
Expanded city parks, playgrounds Streamlined traffic systems
Removed industry and railroads
from Lake Michigan
Washington, D.C. was a planned city
Pierre Charles LEnfants 1791 plan called for splendid diagonal avenues, monuments, a spacious, stately feeling
City and regional planning
City planning grew throughout 20th century Expanding urban populations Decay of inner cities Wealthier residents fled to suburbs Regional planning = deals with same issues as city planning,
but with broader geographic scales that must coordinate with multiple municipal governments
Zoning
Zoning = the practice of classifying areas for different
types of development and land use
Can restrict areas to a single use or can allow a combination of
residential and commercial use
Opponents say that zonings government restriction
violates individual freedoms Proponents say government can set limits for the good of the community
Urban growth boundaries (UGBs)
Limits sprawl: keeps growth in existing urbanized areas Revitalize downtowns Protect farms, forests, and their industries Ensure urban dwellers some access to open space May reduce infrastructure costs Disadvantages: Increases housing prices within their boundaries Restricts development outside UGB Increases the density of new housing inside the UGB Increasing pressure to expand boundaries
Oregons urban growth boundary
The long-term goal was to prevent growth of a megalopolis stretching from Eugene to Seattle
Smart growth
Smart growth = urban growth boundaries and other land use
policies to control growth Proponents promote:
Healthy neighborhoods and communities
Jobs and economic development Transportation options Environmental quality
Building up, not out Focusing development in existing areas Favoring multistory shop-houses and high-rises
Principles of smart growth
Mixed land uses Compact building design Range of housing opportunities and choices Walkable neighborhoods Distinctive, attractive neighborhoods Preserve open space Develop existing communities A variety of transportation choices
Predictable development decisions
Community collaboration in development decisions
New urbanism
New urbanism = neighborhoods are designed on a walkable
scale
Homes, businesses, and schools are close together
Functional neighborhoods in which most of a familys needs
can be met without the use of a car
Transit-oriented development
Transit-oriented development = communities arrayed
around stops on a major rail transit line
People can travel by train and foot alone
Zoning rules must cooperate with new urbanism Denser development must be allowed
Mass transportation
A key in improvement of quality of
urban life Options include: Public buses Trains and subways Light rail = smaller rail systems powered by electricity Cheaper, more energy efficient, and cleaner Traffic congestion is eased
Train and bus systems
The most-used train
systems in the U.S. are in the largest cities Carry more than 25% of each citys daily commuters Most countries have bus systems more accessible than in the U.S. Light rail systems are rapidly increasing
U.S. mass transit lags behind other nations
Most nations have extensive, accessible bus
systems
The U.S. lags behind in mass transit systems
Other nations have high-speed bullet trains The U.S. starves its only national passenger trains (Amtrak) of funding Why is U.S. mass transit behind? - Low population density and cheap fuel support roads and cars - In 2009, Congress set aside $8 billion for highspeed rail
Mass Transit
39
Problems with mass transport*
Expensive to replace existing roads Types of mass transit differ in their effectiveness Depends on city size, size of the transit system Governments can encourage mass transit Raise fuel taxes Tax inefficient modes of transport Reward carpoolers Encourage bicycle use and bus ridership Charge trucks for road damage Stimulate investment in renewed urban centers
India
41
Traffic in India
42
China
43
Mass Transit in China
44
Whats on the roof top?
45
Mexico City
46
Sao Paulo
47
African Traffic
48
Manila, The Philippines
49
Taiwan
50
Biking in Beijing
51
Parks and open spaces are key elements*
City dwellers want to escape from noise, commotion, and
stress of urban life Natural lands, public parks, and open space provide greenery, scenic beauty, freedom, and recreation Protecting natural lands becomes more important with increased urbanization
Because urban dwellers become more isolated and disconnected with
nature
City parks*
Originated in America
in at the end of the 19th century People wanted to make dirty, crowded cities more livable Began in eastern cities Lawns, groves, and curved pathways originated with European ideals
Conflicts between the wealthy and labor classes*
Conflicts over parks
intended purposes arose Rich citizens wanted aesthetic pleasure grounds Carriage rides Poor citizens were interested in active recreation Ballgames
Smaller public spaces are also important
Small spaces can make a big
difference
Playgrounds, community gardens
Greenways
Greenways = strips of land that connect parks or
neighborhoods
Protect water quality
Boost property values
Corridors for wildlife movement
Ecological restoration in cities Enhances naturalness of cities San Franciscos Presidio area is being restored to native dune communities
Greenbelts
Greenbelts = long, wide
corridors of parklands
May surround an entire urban
area
Many cities are trying
ecological restoration to restore the areas naturalness
Volunteers help remove exotic
plants, restore prairies
Chicagos 100,000 acres of forest preserves stretch through the suburbs
Urbanization impacts the environment*
Resource sinks = cities
must import resources from long distances We rely on large expanses of land elsewhere for resources We need natural land for ecosystem services (air and water purification, nutrient cycling, water treatment)
People dont feel the consequences of choices
Isolated urban residents dont feel the
environmental impact of their choices Long distance transportation of resources requires a great deal of fossil fuels But, a world without cities would require more fossil fuels
Efficiency in urban areas
Efficiency = the concentration of people in cities allows
efficient consumption of resources
City density facilitates social services that improve the quality of life Medical services, education, water and sewer systems, waste disposal,
transportation
Consumption in urban areas
Consumption = heavy use of outside resources
extends ecological footprints of cities to a level far beyond their actual sizes
Cities take up only 2% of the land surface, but consume more
than 75% of the worlds resources Urban dwellers have far larger ecological footprints that rural dwellers But, urban residents tend to be wealthier, and wealth correlates with consumption
Cities preserve land but export pollution Because people are packed densely in cities, more
land outside cities is left undeveloped
If cities did not exist, we would have much less room for
agriculture, wilderness, biodiversity, or privacy
Cities export wastes and transfer the costs of activities
to other regions
Citizens are exposed to pollution such as heavy metals and
chemicals The poor bear the brunt of pollution because they are too poor to move
Cities have noise and light pollution
Noise pollution = undesired ambient sound Degrades aesthetic surroundings Can induce stress and harm hearing Light pollution = lights obscure the night sky, impairing the
visibility of stars
Urban centers foster innovation
Cities promote a flourishing cultural life They spark innovation and creativity Promote education and scientific research They are engines of technological and artistic inventiveness They serve as markets for organic produce, recycling, and education
Some seek sustainability for cities
Cities must replace the one-way linear metabolism of
importing resources and exporting wastes
Destabilizes environmental systems and are not sustainable
Urban ecology = cities can be viewed explicitly as
ecosystems
Fundamentals of ecology and systems apply to cities
Urban sustainability: cities should
Use resources efficiently
Recycle Develop environmentally friendly technologies Account fully for external costs Offer tax incentives for sustainable practices Use locally produced resources Use organic waste and wastewater to restore soil
fertility Encourage urban agriculture
Constructing or renovating buildings using efficient
technologies
Green buildings: key toward sustainability
The best way to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions
Buildings consume 40% of energy and 70% of electricity
Green buildings =
structures that reduce their ecological footprints
Built from sustainable
materials Minimize energy and water use Recycle wastes
LEED program
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) =
a certification program run by the U.S. Green Building Council New or renovated buildings apply for certification
They can be granted silver, gold, or platinum status
Green building techniques are more expensive But not as much as expected
LEED certification is booming in the U.S. Built with local, nontoxic products; are energy efficient, educational
Cities can become sustainable
Singapore, Japan, produces all its own meat Curitiba, Brazil, has a highly effective bus network, as well as
provides recycling, environmental education, job training, and free health care Developed countries should invest in resource-efficient technologies to reduce their impacts Developing countries should invest in basic infrastructure to improve health and living conditions
Conclusion
As half the human population has moved to urban lifestyles,
our environmental impact has changed Resources must be delivered over long distances Urban sustainability makes urban areas better places to live
Expanding transportation options to relieve congestion Ensuring access to park lands and greenspaces prevents us from
becoming isolated from nature
American cities are becoming more livable
What drives the move to the suburbs from cities?
A.
concern over demographic transitions B. desire to have a garden C. desire for close-knit communities D. availability of more jobs in suburbs E. desire to live in less stressful, more peaceful park-like conditions
One of the things that contributes to sprawl is:
A.
the steadily increasing price for gasoline B. the trend toward increasing the per capita land consumption C. developers fees D. the steady state of human populations E. zoning
How can governments improve urban transportation?
A.
make some buildings and some communities accessible only by public transportation B. provide motorcycle lanes in the center of rail lines C. designate carpool lanes and carpool parking spots in many public places D. provide bicycle lanes on freeways E. give tax rebates to people who use only public transportation
The original purpose of parks in eastern United States cities was to:
A.
provide wildlife sanctuaries within cities B. provide protected places for hunting foxes, birds, and deer C. protect passenger pigeons, Carolina parakeets, and other rapidly declining species D. provide a place where wealthier people could go to see and be seen E. provide open places for games, such as football, cricket, and lawn tennis
A resource sink is:
A.
an area that is able to trade for all of the things that it needs B. an area that produces almost none of the things that it needs C. a resource that is desirable, such that different cities must compete to obtain enough of it for their citizens D. an area that produces a single resource and can control the price of that commodity or service E. an area that produces many things and needs to export them to a variety of places
QUESTION 1: Review
_______ occurred as a result of deteriorating conditions in the inner cities
a) b) c) d) Movement to suburbs Movement to rural areas Development of inner cities Decentralization of city management
QUESTION 2: Review
Sprawl is defined as?
a) b) c) d) Increased resource extraction from rural areas Creating more livable cities The spread of low-density development outward from an urban center The spread of high-density development outward from an urban center
QUESTION 3: Review
Which statement is false, regarding cities?
a) They must import resources from far away b) They rely on large expanses of land for ecosystem services c) People living in cities feel more connected to nature, particularly since TV d) Cities tend to concentrate people, allowing for more efficient consumption of resources
QUESTION 4: Interpreting Graphs & Data
What major conclusion can be drawn from this graph on urbanization? a) Urbanization will decrease in more developed regions b) Urbanization will decrease in less developed regions c) Urbanization will increase most rapidly in less developed regions d) Urbanization will increase most rapidly in more developed regions
QUESTION 5 : Interpreting Graphs & Data
What result can be anticipated from the following type of development? a) Urban sprawl will increase b) Urban sprawl will decrease c) People will leave this area and move back to the city d) People will suffer stress from overcrowding
QUESTION: Viewpoints
Imagine you lived next to a 10-acre parcel of land that the owner wanted to develop into a dense housing division. How would you feel? Fine; its the persons right to develop the land as he or she wants b) I would not like it, but its the persons right to develop the land c) The city should buy the property to put in a park d) I would try to buy the property, and post large Keep Out signs
a)
