Urbanization
How do we use land?
Land Use Industrial Uses Clear cut land to place industrial plants Hazardous Waste produced Thermal Pollution – water too hot Chemical waste entering water systems
Land Use Housing and development New subdivisions are cropping up due to the population growth in areas. Land is cleared for commercial use (retail businesses and medical facilities)
What is Urbanization? Large town with a growing suburbs Depend on resources outside the city Why are big cities growing? Increase in birth rates Immigration – poor are moving to larger cities and away from rural areas Cities have grown from 2% to 45% since 1950 By 2050 66% of all people in the world will live in urban areas.
75% of the US population lives in urban areas occupying 3% of the country’s land area
What are Heat Islands?
Heat Islands: The enormous amount of heat generated creates an urban heat island
Heat Island research What trends do you see?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS WITH URBAN DEVELOPMENT? Infectious diseases Inadequate water system Poor sewer systems Exposure to pollution BENEFITS Better education system Medical services Social service programs
What is Population growth? Current Population Rate US: over 300 million World: over 7 billion
What is Carrying capacity?
Ecological Stability Carrying Capacity – maximum number of individuals the environment can support
Exceeding the Carrying Capacity Reindeer introduced to a small island off of Alaska in the early 1900s exceeded the carrying capacity, with an "overshoot" followed by a "population crash" in which the population was totally decimated by the mid–1900s. © Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP
What is Smart Growth? Smart growth Reduces dependence on cars Controls and directs sprawl Cuts wasteful resource use
Smart Growth Works! U.S. cities Curitiba, Brazil Portland, OR San Francisco, CA Curitiba, Brazil Europe: compact cities
SOLUTIONS Smart Growth Tools Limits and Regulations Protection Taxes Preserve existing open space Buy new open space Limit building permits Buy development rights that prohibit certain types of development on land parcels Urban growth boundaries Greenbelts around cities Public review of new development Taxes Zoning Tax land, not buildings Tax land on value of actual use (such as forest and agriculture) instead of on highest value as developed land Encourage mixed use of housing and small businesses Concentrate development along mass transportation routes Tax Breaks For owners agreeing not to allow certain types of development (conservation easements) Promote high-density cluster housing developments Figure 22.16 Smart growth or new urbanism tools that are used to control urban growth and sprawl. Questions: Which five of these tools do you think are the most important ways to prevent or control urban sprawl? Which, if any, of these tools are used in your community? For cleaning up and developing abandoned urban sites (brownfields) Planning Ecological land-use planning Revitalization and New Growth Environmental impact analysis Revitalize existing towns and cities Integrated regional planning Build well-planned new towns and villages within cities State and national planning Fig. 22-16, p. 603
New Urbanism Is Growing Cluster development New urbanism, old villageism Walkability Mixed-use and diversity Quality urban design Environmental sustainability Smart transportation
The Ecocity Concept: Cities for People Not Cars Ecocities or green cities Build and redesign for people Use renewable energy resources Recycle and purify water Use energy and matter resources efficiently Prevent pollution and reduce waste Recycle, reuse and compost municipal waste Protect and support biodiversity Urban gardens; farmers markets Zoning and other tools for sustainability
Science Focus: Urban Indoor Farming Rooftop greenhouses Sun Works: designs energy-efficient greenhouses Hydroponic gardens Skyscraper farms