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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
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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