1. Urbanization
Increase in the ratio or density of people living in urban areas rather than in rural areas
Developed countries- process slowed second half of the 20th century
Many small towns have grown together; formed large metropolitan areas
Ex: Washington D.C.-Baltimore

2. Infrastructure Basic facilities of a country or region
schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, sewers, railroads

3. Slow growth affects on urbanization
Areas relatively pleasant
roads and public transportation adequate
green spaces provide ecosystem services
moderation of temperature
infiltration of rainwater runoff
aesthetic value

4. The Urban Crisis
Rapidly growing population overwhelms the infrastructure, living conditions deteriorate
traffic jams, substandard housing, polluted air & water

5. Urban Sprawl
Rapid spread of a city into adjoining suburbs and rural areas.
building of suburbs on the boundary of a larger town
often built on former farmland
new suburbs cover 1 million hectares (2.5 million acres) of land/ year (United States)

6. Development on Marginal Lands
Many cities built with little room for expansion
suburbs forced to built on marginal land
(land poorly suited for building)

7. Other Impacts of Urbanization
Cities generate and trap more heat than surrounding countryside
Why? Roads and buildings absorb and retain heat longer then vegetation
Heat island: area where air temperature is generally higher than the temperature of surrounding rural areas

8. Heat Island affects Change local weather patterns- increase rainfall
Moderated
plant trees for shade
install rooftops that reflect rather than retain heat

9. Urban Planning
Land-use planning: set of policies and activities related to potential uses of land, put in place before an area is developed
Environmental impact required for many projects

10. Intelligent Design
Geographical information system (GIS): automated system for capturing, storing, retrieving, analyzing, manipulating, and displaying geographic data

11. Types of data
locations of sewer lines, roads, and parks
Each image a different combination of information
allows a user to display layers of information about an area and to overlay these layers
(like overhead transparencies)

12. Transportation
Most cities in the United States are difficult to travel in without a car
constructed after the invention of the automobile
sprawl over large areas
Most cities in Europe built before cars
compact with narrow roads

13. Mass Transit Systems
Use buses and trains to move many people at one time
Advantages
save energy
limit the loss of land to roadways and parking lots
reduce highway congestion, air pollution
Carpooling: an important alternative

14. Open Space
Land within urban areas set aside for scenic and recreational enjoyment
include parks, public gardens, bicycle and hiking trails.
In natural condition called greenbelts
provide important ecological services

15. Open Space Eco-services
From Plants
absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen
filter out pollutants from air and water
keep a city cooler in the summer
From green areas
reduce drainage by absorbing rainwater runoff from hardscape
places for exercise and relaxation

16. GIS Views of Seattle, Washington