Lecture 14/15 Flashcards
define urbanization
the movement of people from rural to urban areas
how has the rate of urbanization changed in developed nations
it has slowed
how has the rate of urbanization changed in developing nations
it has become more rapid
how do geographical factors impact the urbanization of areas
- climate, topography, and configuration of waterways determine if a large city can form
what are some problems associated with urbanization (developing countries)
- Less need for farm labor due to transition to industrialization
- Wars, conflict, and ecological degradation drive migration to cities
- Now many of these cities face overcrowding, pollution, and poverty
- Their economic growth does not match their population growth
what are some examples of decentralizing in developed countries
- global commerce, jet travel, television, cell phones and internet
- businesses do not need to be in urban areas
- highway networks make it easier to commute
define urban sprawl
the spread of low-density urban or suburban development outward from an urban center
what is a cause of urban sprawl (1)
human population growth
what is a cause of urban sprawl (2)
- amount of sprawl = the number of people added to an area times the amount of land the average person occupies
- interstate highways
- technology (telecommunications, and the Internet) eliminate businesses from dependence on a centralized infrastructure and workers can live wherever they wish
what is a cause of urban sprawl (3/4)
- People like their space/privacy
- Social perception
define transportation (urban sprawl problem)
Transportation: people forced to drive
- want to own cars = more dependence on fossil fuels
- lack of mass transit options / more traffic accidents
define pollution (urban sprawl problem)
Pollution from sprawl’s effects
- CO2, nitrogen- and sulfur-containing air
- motor oil and road salt from roads and parking lots
define health (urban sprawl problem)
Health: promotes physical inactivity (obesity, high blood pressure)
define land use (urban sprawl problem)
Land Use: remove forests, farmland with loss of ecosystem services, recreation habitat
define economics (urban sprawl problem)
Economics: drains tax dollars from communities (for roads, water and sewer systems, electricity, police and fire services, schools in new developments)
define city planning
involves designing cities with goal of maximizing their efficiency, beauty, functionality
- development options
- transportation needs
- public parks
define regional planning
deals with issues on broader geographic scales involving multiple municipal governments
define zoning
practice of classifying areas for different types of development and land use
- can restrict areas to single use or allow combination of residential/commercial/agricultural uses
what are two solutions to urban sprawl
- Establish urban growth boundaries (UGBs) in Regional Planning
- Establish greenbelts through changes in zoning designations
what are some advantages to urban growth boundaries (UBG’s)
- concentrates development
- limits sprawl: keeps growth in existing urbanized areas
- revitalize downtowns
- protect farms, orchards, ranches, forests
- ensure urban dwellers some access to open space
- may reduce infrastructure costs
what are some disadvantages of urban growth boundaries (UBG’s)
- increases housing prices within their boundaries
- restricts development outside UGB
- increases the density of new housing inside the UGB
- increasing pressure to expand boundaries
define greenbelt
is a land use (zoning) designation
- intended to contain urban development and protect agricultural and natural lands
ontario greenbelt
considered a major success (worldwide)
- under threat by current provincial government
what ecosystem services does the ontario greenbelt provide
- filter through wetlands
- replenish groundwater
- safeguard vital resources that clean air and water
- reduce flood risks
- provide a home for wildlife
- protect soils in high-quality farmland
- ensure communities have access to greenspace
define new urbanism
- design liveable cities using smart growth
- urban growth boundaries and other land use policies to control growth and promote “smart growth”
- Proponents promote:
- healthy neighborhoods/communities
- jobs and economic development
- transportation options
- environmental quality
- Building “up, not out”
- focusing development in existing areas
- favouring multi-story shop-houses and high-rises
what are the 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
- variety of transportation choices
- predictable development decisions
- community collaboration in development decisions
transit-oriented development
Communities arrayed around stops on a major rail transit lines
- people can travel by train and foot alone (reduce car use)
- Zoning rules must align better with new urbanism
- denser development must be allowed
what are some issues with mass transport
- Expensive to replace existing roads
- Types of mass transit differ in their effectiveness
- depends on city size, size of transit system
- Convenient affordable rail transit – most environmentally sustainable option
- Governments can encourage mass transit
- raise fuel taxes
- tax inefficient modes of transport
- reward carpoolers
- encourage bicycle use / bus ridership
- charge trucks for road damage
- stimulate investment in renewed urban centers
define greenways
strips of land that connect parks or neighborhoods
what are some benefits of greenways
- protect water quality
- boost property values
- provide corridors for wildlife movement
- allow ecological restoration in cities
what are some environmental impacts of urban resource consumption
- resource sinks
- efficiency considerations
- more consumption
- increased pollution
define how cities act as resource sinks
cities must import resources from long distances
- rely on large expanses of land elsewhere for resources
- need natural land for ecosystem services (air and water purification, nutrient cycling, water treatment)
define how cities require efficiency considerations
concentration of people in cities allows efficient use and delivery of goods and services
- city density facilities social services that improve the quality of life:
- medical services
- education
- water
- sewer systems
- waste disposal
- public transportation
define how cities encourage more consumption
Heavy use of outside resources extends ecological footprints of cities to levels far beyond actual sizes
- cities occupy approximately 5% of the land surface, but consume more than 75% of the world’s resources
- urban dwellers have far larger ecological footprints that rural dwellers
- urban residents tend to be wealthier leading to more consumption
define how cities lead to increased pollution
higher population densities of cities in comparison to rural areas
- cities import resources but also export wastes and transfer the costs of dealing with their waste to other regions
- citizens are exposed to pollution (e.g. heavy metals/chemicals)
- the poor suffer the consequences of pollution the most because they are too poor to move and lack political or economic influence
define how cities lead to increased pollution (other types)
- Urban “Heat Island” Effect
= cities have ambient temperatures that are several degrees higher than the surrounding areas - Noise Pollution
= undesired ambient sound- can induce stress and harms hearing
degrades aesthetic of surroundings
- can induce stress and harms hearing
- Light Pollution
= lights obscure the night sky, impairing the visibility of stars
define urban ecology
cities can be viewed as ecosystems
