1. Section 1- Urbanization and Urban Growth
Chapter 22
Section 1- Urbanization and Urban Growth

2. Urban and Rural Areas Urban or metropolitan area
Town and its adjacent suburbs
Rural area
Area with population over 2,500 people
Village
Rural homes linked together by culture and surviving off of local natural resources
City
Larger group of people that depend on resources from other areas

3. Urban Growth Natural increase- more births than deaths Immigration
Rural to urban areas
Poverty
Lack of land
Declining agriculture jobs
Famine
War

4. Patterns of Urban Growth Today
Population living in urban areas is increasing
Number of large cities is mushrooming
Urbanization and urban population are increasing rapidly in developing countries
Poverty is becoming urbanized in developing countries

5. Major Urban Problems in US
Many urban environmental problems in US reduced since 1920
People have better working and living conditions
Better air and water quality
Better sanitation, public water supplies, and medical care lowered death rates
By having most of the population in urban areas, we are able to protect the country’s biodiversity

6. Major Urban Problems in US (cont.)
Cities have
deteriorating services
Aging infrastructure
Rising poverty
Urban sprawl
Ample land for expansion
Federal and state funding for highways
Low-cost gas

7. 22.4 How Important is Urban Land Use Planning

8. Conventional Land Use Planning
Terms: land-use planning, zoning
All development needs some planning for future growth – but often plans focus on cost and lead to uncontrolled urban sprawl and economic problems.
Property tax laws encourage using tools like zoning to increase profit rather than to create mixed areas (with housing, businesses etc) or preserve natural land

9. Smart Growth Can Work
Terms: smart growth, conservation easements, brown fields
With the right rules and regulations, our cities and towns can grow while also becoming more sustainable and reducing air pollution within congested cities
Can actually provide MORE jobs and economic growth than conventional land use planning
Example: Portland, Oregon

10. Preserving and Using Open Space
Terms: urban growth boundaries, greenbelts
Open space within and connected to cities with urban growth boundaries, greenbelts and municipal parks

11. 22.5 How Can Cities become more sustainable and livable

12. New Urbanism is Growing
Terms: cluster development
Principles of New Urbanism:
Walkability: 10 minutes
Mixed-use and diversity: variety of buildings and people
Quality urban design: aesthetics
Smart Transportation: mass transit

13. The Ecocity Concept: Cities for People Not Cars
The problem isn’t urban growth but rather failure to make cities more sustainable and livable
Basic idea: Efficiency standards, local products, renewable energy, preserve nature
Fit the goals of new urbanism, but go beyond that
Dongtan, China: Goals
First carbon neutral city
Community of 80,000 by 2020
Ecological footprint half that of comparable cities
“urban laboratories to experiment”

14. The Ecovillage Movement is Growing
Terms: ecovillage Movement
Small groups are coming together, using a variety to methods to make pockets of sustainability – even within large and unsustainable cities

15. Living in Cities Awesome because:
Centers for commerce, industry, and transportation
People in cities have longer life spans
Recycling is easier because materials are highly concentrated
Takes small amount of land so disturbs little biodiversity

16. Cities are also terrible
Inputs
Outputs
Energy
Solid wastes
Food
Waste heat
Air pollutants
Water
Water pollutants
Raw materials
Greenhouse gases
Manufactured goods
Noise
Money
Wealth
Information
Ideas
High Ecological Footprints
Area disturbed not just physical space occupied
Removes people from nature
Will not be passionate enough about nature to protect it
No vegetation
No benefits from plants
Absorbing pollutants, Producing oxygen, Providing habitats
Water Issues
Large demand but not a lot of water
Take water away from rural areas
Prone to flooding
Destroyed wetlands to build many cities
Dry areas can experience aquifer depletion and droughts

17. Cities and stuff cont. Concentrated pollution and Health Risks
Pollutants cannot be dispersed/diluted b/c small area
High CO2 Concentration
Lots of cars
Can disrupt Carbon and Nitrogen cycle
Noise Pollution
Cause hearing loss
Can cause stress and accidents
Differing Climate and Light Pollution
Heat generated by cities
Artificial light produced

18. City Spread Dispersed vs. Concentrated Dispersed Most of cities in US
Forces use of more cars
Allows pollutants to be diluted more easily
Concentrated
People can walk or use public transportation more
Higher concentration of pollutants
Higher health risks

19. Automobiles Why they’re bad Accidents CO2 Pollution
Infrastructure takes up a lot of space
Reducing use
Full Cost Pricing
Including environmental impact in the price
Will increase price of gasoline so people will drive less
Government allocate more money to public transportation
Not very available in many major cities

20. Alternatives Bikes Better for physical fitness No pollutants Cheap
Railway systems
Most cities had light-rail system but got rid of it to promote cars
Rapid rail systems
Trains between urban areas
Can be expensive though
US used to be awesome
Now it sucks because we got rid of all of our light rail systems
Thought the car would be more important