Urbanization: The Rise, Impact, and Challenges of Our Changing Cities
Chapter 13 explores the profound shift toward urban living, highlighting that more people now reside in cities and suburbs than in rural areas. This urbanization is driven by industrialization, affecting both developed and developing nations. The chapter examines factors like transportation, pollution, health, and economics associated with urban sprawl. It emphasizes the potential for a smaller ecological footprint in urban environments but warns against the challenges of sprawl, including increased vehicle dependency, land consumption, and infrastructure costs. The discussion reflects on significant cities and their development trajectories.
Urbanization: The Rise, Impact, and Challenges of Our Changing Cities
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Presentation Transcript
CHAPTER 13 THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
OUR SHIFTING HUMAN ENVIRONMENT • 2009: More of us living in urban areas (cities, suburbs) than rural • “URBANIZATION” • Nomadic hunter-gatherer ------- Agricultural settlements -------- Urban centers • CHAPTER: ‘Urban living potentially results in a SMALLER footprint!’
why are major cities located where they are? • NEW YORK: MAJOR PORT • ST LOUIS: MISSISSIPPI RIVER • FORT WORTH: INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, AIRPORT • CHICAGO: LAKE MICHIGAN, RAILROADS, GRAIN/BEEF
GROWTH OF SUBURBS AND.....SPRAWL • MID-20th CENTURY • RISE OF THE AUTOMOBILE • IMPROVED ROAD SYSTEM • CHEAP GASOLINE • RACIAL FACTORS?
SPRAWL • CHAPTER: ‘Urban living potentially results in a SMALLER footprint!’ • BUT WITHOUT SPRAWL!
SPRAWL • WE LIVE FAR FROM OUR JOBS, INCREASING USE OF CARS • WE LIVE FAR FROM THE CENTERS OF PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION: • manufactured goods • food • INCREASED TRUCKING • WE LIVE IN BIG HOMES....WITH BIG ENERGY NEEDS! • WE USE MORE LAND
CAUSES OF SPRAWL (low-density housing) • SPRAWL = f(population growth x land area per person) • Per capita land consumption rises • Residents AND businesses move away from city center • Possible due to: • roads • cheap gasoline • telecommunications/Internet
EFFECTS OF SPRAWL • TRANSPORTATION • POLLUTION • HEALTH • LAND USE • ECONOMICS
SPRAWL AND TRANSPORTATION • LIMITED MASS TRANSIT • MANY MORE VEHICLE MILES • INCREASED USE/DEPENDENCE ON PETROLEUM
SPRAWL AND POLLUTION • INCREASED VEHICLE USE: • CO2 • Trop O3 • Acid rain • Runoff
sprawl and health • 2003: People from most sprawling counties weigh 6 lbs more than from less sprawling counties • NEW YORKERS ARE VERY FIT! • THEY WALK EVERYWHERE....AND FAST!
SPRAWL AND LAND USE • LESS LAND AVAILABLE FOR: • RESOURCES • RECREATION • AESTHETIC BEAUTY • HABITAT • AIR/WATER PURIFICATION • OTHER ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
SPRAWL AND ECONOMICS • VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA: • SPRAWLING DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES 81% MORE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS THAN COMPACT URBAN DEVELOPMENT
