1. Urban Land Use Environmental Science 2013-2014

2. Urbanization  The movement of people from rural areas to cities.  People usually move for more plentiful and better paying jobs.  Metropolitan areas – areas where towns have grown together to form large urban areas.  Denver-Boulder  Boston-Worcester-Lawrence  Washington, D.C.-Baltimore

3. Urbanization  Urban areas that have grown slowly are generally pleasant areas to live in.  Roads and public transportation have been built to handle the growth.  Buildings, roads, and parking lots are mixed in with green spaces and recreational areas.

4. The Urban Crisis  A rapidly growing population can overwhelm the infrastructure and lead to traffic jams, substandard housing, and polluted air and water.  Widespread issue around the world.  Infrastructure – all of the things society builds for public use.  Roads  Sewers  Railroads  Bridges  Canals  Fire and police stations  Schools  Libraries  Hospitals  Water mains  Power lines

5. Urban Sprawl  Rapid expansion of a city into the countryside.  Results from building suburbs or housing (and commercial buildings) on the boundary of a larger town.  In 2000, more Americans lived in suburbs than in cities and the countryside combined.

6. Development on Marginal Lands  Marginal land – land that is poorly suited for building.  Houses in LA and Mexico City are built into the hillsides.  Prone to landslides.  Can be difficult to repair and expensive to insure.

7. Other Impacts of Urbanization  Cities generate and trap more heat.  Creates a heat island.  Increased temperature in a city.  Can affect local weather patterns.  Increased rainfall.

8. Urban Planning  Land-use planning  Determining in advance how land will be used.  Where houses, businesses, and factories will be built.  Land for recreation.  Etc.

9. Technological Tools  Geographic information system (GIS)  Computerized system for storing, manipulating, and viewing geographic data.  User can enter different types of data about an area (sewer lines, roads, parks) and then create a map.  Can be placed over one another.

10. Technological Tools

11. Transportation  Most cities in the U.S. are difficult to travel in without a car.  Cities span a very large area.  Mass transit systems (trains and buses) move many people at once.  Save energy, reduce highway congestion, reduce air pollution, and limit the loss of land to roadways and parking lots.

12. Open Space  Land within urban areas that is set aside for scenic and recreational enjoyment.  Parks  Public gardens  Bicycle and hiking trails  Numerous benefits:  Plants absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and filter out pollutants  Plants help keep temperatures cooler  Plants reduce runoff  Places for exercise and relaxation