The Urban World Chapter 10

The City as an Ecosystem Urbanization: urban areas vary by # of people. US Bureau of Census defines an urban area as “a location with 2500 or more people.  75% of US Population lives in an urban environment.

Population and Urbanization Urban migration

Population and Urbanization Characteristics of the Urban Population Increased heterogeneity Young age structure Different proportions of males / females

Population and Urbanization Urbanization Trends in US Urban Agglomerations: urban core region that consists of several adjacent cirties Ex: tokyo-Yokohoma-Osaka-Kobe agglomeration in Japan (50 million people)

QUESTION: Population and Urbanization What has a rush to urbanization in developing countries led to?

ANSWER: Population and Urbanization Rush to urbanization in developing countries has led to: exceptionally high unemploymentexceptionally high unemployment Over whelmed economic growth, povertyOver whelmed economic growth, poverty Homelessness, Slums and squatter settlementsHomelessness, Slums and squatter settlements Heavy pollutionHeavy pollution Inadequate on nonexistent waterInadequate on nonexistent water Inadequate water, sewage and waste disposalInadequate water, sewage and waste disposal

Population and Urbanization Urbanization Trends Insert Table 10.1

The City as an Ecosystem Land Use Patterns Park City, UT Mixed use Residential

The City as an Ecosystem Land Use Patterns Park City, UT Undeveloped

The City as an Ecosystem Long Term Ecological Research (LERT) sponsored by The National Science Foundation looks into urban ecology trends and patterns in the context of four variable. What are they?

The City as an Ecosystem Population  Organization  Environment  Technology Population: Organization Environment Technology

The City as an Ecosystem Environmental Problems Associated with Urban Areas Brownfields Inadequate sewage / storm water systems Long commutes Air pollution Urban Heat

The City as an Ecosystem Brownfields Brownfields: areas of abandoned, vacant factories, warehouses, & residential areas that may be contaminated past uses. sites/nytoc_county.html

Marathon Battery Co. What happened?What happened? Who cleaned it up?Who cleaned it up? Did it work? Did it work? How is it being used today?How is it being used today? /superfund/npl/ c.pdf

The City as an Ecosystem Environmental Problems Associated with Urban Areas Creation of urban heat islands

The City as an Ecosystem Environmental Problems Associated with Urban Areas Dust domes

The City as an Ecosystem Urban Heat Island: the heat released by paved streets & Buildings is slowly released into the atmosphere. (remember albedo?)  The atmosphere over cities is often cloudier & produces more precipitation than the surrounding produces more precipitation than the surrounding countryside. countryside.

The City as an Ecosystem Benefits of Urbanization (+) Compact Development: cities are often designed to be efficient so that public transport is utilized. Ex: Curitiba, Brazil

QUESTION: Making Cities More Sustainable What are the design principles of a sustainable city? That is, what does such a city have or do that demonstrates sustainability?

QUESTION: ANSWER Making Cities More Sustainable a livable environment Clean facilities (water, Sanitation, land use) a strong economy a social and cultural sense of community a future generation of urban dwellers (rather than a declining inner city area and growing suburbs)

Making Cities More Sustainable Features of a sustainable city: 1) Clear, cohesive urban policies 2) Utilize energy and other resources efficiently

Making Cities More Sustainable Features of a sustainable city: 1) Clear, cohesive urban policies 2) Utilize energy and other resources efficiently 3) Designed to reduce pollution 4) Large areas of green space 5) People-centered, not car-centered 6) Encourage urban farming

Making Cities More Sustainable Case-in-Point: Curitiba, Brazil

Do Now: Making Cities More Sustainable What has Curitiba, Brazil done to become a world model for sustainability?

Do Now: ANSWERS Making Cities More Sustainable an efficient, inexpensive mass transit system of clean, modern buses in high-speed dedicated lanes high density development along the bus lanes low-polluting fuel of diesel + alcohol+ soybean extract interconnected parks and bike paths the Garbage Purchase Plan: garbage pickup in exchange for food, bus tokens

Compact Development in Portland Oregon

The City as an Ecosystem Environmental Problems Associated with Urban Areas Noise pollution

The City as an Ecosystem Environmental Benefits of Urbanization Preservation of rural areas (particularly with compact development)

Urban Land Use Planning Central business district (highest taxes) Typical urban area Residential areas (high to moderate taxes) Land intensive businesses (lowest taxes)

Urban Land Use Planning Transportation and Urban Development

The end

Urban Land Use Planning Suburban Sprawl Problems: Increased air pollution Loss / fragmentation of wildlife habitat Loss of wetlands, forest, & agricultural lands Noise pollution

Model of Environmental Impact Proposed by Ehrlich & Holdren I = P x A x T Environmental Impact = # of people x affluence per person x technological effect of using and obtaining resources.