Chapter 18 The Urban Environment PDF

Chapter 18: The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities Terms: Urbanization: The shift of population into towns and cities Suburbs: Developed countries have slower rates of urbanization due to higher rates of people living in suburbs, the smaller communities t...

Chapter 18: The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities Terms: Urbanization: The shift of population into towns and cities Suburbs: Developed countries have slower rates of urbanization due to higher rates of people living in suburbs, the smaller communities that ring cities. Sprawl: Is the spread of low-density urban, suburban, or exurban development out from an urban center. City planning/urban planning: provides advice and solutions regarding development options, transportation needs, public parks, and other matters. Regional planners: do similar work, but across larger geographic areas that may cover more than one municipality. Zoning: is the practice of classifying different areas for different types of development and land use. Urban growth boundaries (UGBs): Planners in Oregon created Urban growth boundaries (UGBs) by drawing lines on a map to designate high-density urban areas from low-density rural ones. Environmental Justice: Housing has also become much less affordable, with middle-income people being forced out of their traditional neighborhoods due to costs leading to environmental justice issues. Gentrification: This transformation of a neighborhood to wealthier people is called gentrification. Smart growth: Since the passage of Oregon Senate Bill 100, other approaches have been added creating a concept called smart growth. New urbanism: A related approach is new urbanism, which designs neighborhoods on a walkable scale with homes, businesses, schools, and other amenities all nearby. Mass transit: Public buses, trains, subways, or light rail that can move large numbers of passengers while occupying less space than road networks. Green buildings: are designed to minimize the ecological footprint of these structures in their construction and operation. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED): The U.S Green Building Council promotes these efforts through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. Renewable natural resources: are replenished over short periods. Nonrenewable natural resources: are formed much more slowly than we use them and are no longer available once depleted. Food security: Is the guarantee of an adequate, safe, nutritious, and reliable food supply. Farmer’s market: consumers buy meat and produce from local producers. Sustainability: is a guiding principle of modern environmental science and a concept you will encounter throughout this course. Urban heat island effect: results from the concentrations of buildings, vehicles, factories, and people. Cities tend to have ambient temperatures that r=are several degrees higher than surrounding areas.  Urban ecology: is a field that treats cities as ecosystems that must develop ways to recycle waste and wastewater, use resources efficiently, and develop green technologies. Important: -Most cities are placed near rivers, sea, railroads, or highways to be able to trade. -20th century people began moving to the suburbs. Led to rapid decrease in population and economic decline within the cities. -An average Chicago suburban resident takes up 11 times more space than one from the city. (sprawl). -Two components that contribute to sprawl: ➔ Human population growth ➔ Per capita land consumption -Pollution is increased by sprawl due to the use of vehicles. -Sprawl promotes physical inactivity, sine driving takes that component away -More land developed means less forests, fields, farmlands, or ranchland -Regional planning you do region (tampa, clearwater and St pete) -A key component to improving urban life is to give residents alternative transportation options, such as bicycling. (special bike lanes and paths, public bike racks, and special cyclist markings at intersections) -Mass transit is cheaper and less polluting than vehicle transit. -Consequences of urbanization are complex, bringing both positive and negative environmental impacts. -cities export some of their wastes including air pollution: this transfers the costs of their activities to other places. -CIties and towns are resource sinks, having to import nearly everything they need to feed, clothe, and house their inhabitants. -Cities also have ecological footprints much greater than their actual geographic area, but consumption is more highly tied to wealth than living in an urban or rural area. -cities that import all their resources and export all their wastes have a linear, one-way metabolism. To be sustainable, they must develop circular systems, similar to those found in nature. Question: Review -Why do people leave the city and move to the suburbs? a. They want more space b. Real estate is cheaper c. They are pursuing economic opportunities d. They want less crime e. All of these are reasons people move to the suburbs (Zoning) (green building) (urban heat island effect)