Chapter 10Chapter 10The Urban WorldThe Urban World

Overview of Chapter 10Overview of Chapter 10

o Population and UrbanizationPopulation and Urbanization• Characteristics of Urban PopulationCharacteristics of Urban Population• Urbanization TrendsUrbanization Trends

o City as an EcosystemCity as an Ecosystem• Environmental Problems in Urban AreasEnvironmental Problems in Urban Areas• Environmental Benefits of UrbanizationEnvironmental Benefits of Urbanization

o Urban Land Use PlanningUrban Land Use Planning• Transportation and Urban DevelopmentTransportation and Urban Development• Suburban SprawlSuburban Sprawl

o Making Cities More SustainableMaking Cities More Sustainable

Population and UrbanizationPopulation and Urbanization

o By 2007 or 2008, half of the world’s By 2007 or 2008, half of the world’s population will live in urban areaspopulation will live in urban areas

Population and UrbanizationPopulation and Urbanization

o UrbanizationUrbanization• Process in which people increasingly move Process in which people increasingly move

from rural areas to densely population citiesfrom rural areas to densely population cities

o Jobs define urban vs. rural, not populationsJobs define urban vs. rural, not populations• Rural area occupations involve harvesting Rural area occupations involve harvesting

natural resourcesnatural resources• Urban area occupations involve jobs not Urban area occupations involve jobs not

connected with natural resourcesconnected with natural resources

o People are moving to cities due to People are moving to cities due to decrease in employment opportunities in decrease in employment opportunities in rural areasrural areas

Characteristics of Urban PopulationCharacteristics of Urban Population

o Basic characteristics of city Basic characteristics of city populations:populations:• Diverse population in terms of race, Diverse population in terms of race,

ethnicity, religion and socioeconomic ethnicity, religion and socioeconomic statusstatus

• Younger population than local rural areaYounger population than local rural area• More males in More males in

developing nation developing nation citiescities

• More females in More females in developed nation developed nation cities cities

Urbanization TrendsUrbanization Trendso Urbanization is increasing rapidlyUrbanization is increasing rapidly

• Especially in developing countriesEspecially in developing countrieso World’s 10 largest cities are in World’s 10 largest cities are in

developing countriesdeveloping countries

Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong has a whopping 43 buildings over 200 metres tall, 30 of which were built in the year 2000 or later. It also boasts four of the 15 tallest buildings in the world. Hong Kong’s skyline shows a large selection of distinct sky-reaching towers.

Metro/Urban Population: 6.9 million

The Top Skylines in the World

http://citynoise.org/article/3432

The Top Skylines in the World

Chicago, Illinois

When Chicago built its first steel high-rise in 1885, it was not the tallest structure in the world but the first example of a new form of engineering that would change nearly every city on earth. Chicago has 19 buildings over 200 metres tall (three of which are among the top 20 tallest buildings in the world, including the tallest in North America).

Metro/Urban Population: 9.5 million

The Top Skylines in the World

Shanghai, China

China's biggest and most advanced city, Shanghai was said to be the most cosmopolitan city in the beginning of the 20th century, but lost its glory during the “Mao era”. It is now quickly regaining its position as one of the biggest economic powerhouses in the world as well as a showcase of modern architecture. In Shanghai you’ll find 25 structures that are over 200 metres tall, one of which is the insanely tall, the 468m downtown Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

Metro/Urban Population: 13.1 million

The Top Skylines in the World

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Already home of the world's tallest all-hotel building and the tallest all-residential building in the world, AND currently proposed to build the world's tallest building. All seven structures in this city at over 200 metres tall were built in 1999 or later - that's how new this city is.

Metro/Urban Population: 1.6 million

Palm Islands,

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Burj, DubaiWorld’s Tallest Human Structure

Urbanization TrendsUrbanization Trendso Urban AgglomerationUrban Agglomeration

• Urbanized core region that consists of Urbanized core region that consists of several adjunct cities or megacities and several adjunct cities or megacities and their surrounding developed suburbstheir surrounding developed suburbs

United States United States Urban Urban

Agglomerations Agglomerations

(Population of (Population of 50,000 or above)50,000 or above)

Substandard HousingSubstandard Housing

o Typically occupied Typically occupied by squattersby squatters• Illegally occupy Illegally occupy

unsafe housingunsafe housing

o No city servicesNo city services• Water, sewage, Water, sewage,

garbage collection, garbage collection, police and fire police and fire protectionprotection

o 1/3 of urban population in developing countries are squatters1/3 of urban population in developing countries are squatterso Homelessness is present in lower numbers in developed Homelessness is present in lower numbers in developed

countriescountries

Land Use- Land Use- Park City, Park City,

UtahUtah

Full Satellite View of CityFull Satellite View of City

Undeveloped Open SpaceUndeveloped Open Space

Environmental Problems in Urban Environmental Problems in Urban AreasAreas

o Growing urban areas affect land use Growing urban areas affect land use patternspatterns• Fragment wildlifeFragment wildlife• Encroach wetlands, forests, desert, etc.Encroach wetlands, forests, desert, etc.

o BrownfieldsBrownfields• Urban areas of abandoned industrial or Urban areas of abandoned industrial or

residential sites that may be contaminated residential sites that may be contaminated from past usefrom past use

o Impermeable surfaces and urban Impermeable surfaces and urban runoff discharged into waterwaysrunoff discharged into waterways• Motor oil, lawn fertilizers, heavy metalsMotor oil, lawn fertilizers, heavy metals

Environmental Problems in Urban Environmental Problems in Urban AreasAreas

o Long commutesLong commutes• Traffic congested streetsTraffic congested streets• Buildup of airborne emissions due to cars Buildup of airborne emissions due to cars

and industryand industryo Noise pollutionNoise pollutiono Urban heat islandUrban heat island

• Local heat buildup in an area of high Local heat buildup in an area of high population densitypopulation density

• Affect local air currents and weather Affect local air currents and weather conditionsconditions

• Contribute to buildup of pollutants- dust Contribute to buildup of pollutants- dust domesdomes

Urban Heat IslandUrban Heat Island

Temperature variations on a summer Temperature variations on a summer afternoonafternoon

Environmental Benefits of Environmental Benefits of UrbanizationUrbanization

o Well-planned city can benefit the Well-planned city can benefit the environmentenvironment• Reduces pollutionReduces pollution• Preserves rural areasPreserves rural areas

o Compact DevelopmentCompact Development• Design of cities where residential buildings Design of cities where residential buildings

are close to shopping, jobs and public are close to shopping, jobs and public transportationtransportation

• Ex: Portland, OregonEx: Portland, Oregon

Urban Land Use PlanningUrban Land Use Planning

o Land use based on economic concernsLand use based on economic concernso From center of city outwards:From center of city outwards:

• City center- Central Business District City center- Central Business District (highest taxes)(highest taxes)

• Residential properties (lower taxes than Residential properties (lower taxes than city center)city center)

• Land intensive businesses (even lower Land intensive businesses (even lower taxes)taxes)

• Suburbs (lowest taxes)Suburbs (lowest taxes)

o Parks and green space are interspersedParks and green space are interspersed

Urban Land Use PlanningUrban Land Use Planning

o Land Use PlanningLand Use Planning• Process of deciding the best use for Process of deciding the best use for

undeveloped land in a given areaundeveloped land in a given areao Influenced by political and economic Influenced by political and economic

factorsfactorso Regulated through zoningRegulated through zoning

• Cities divided into use zonesCities divided into use zones• CommercialCommercial• ResidentialResidential• IndustrialIndustrial

• Property owners must meet zoning Property owners must meet zoning ordinancesordinances

Transportation and Urban Transportation and Urban DevelopmentDevelopment

o Transportation Transportation availability availability affects city’s affects city’s spatial spatial structurestructure

o Ex: An east Ex: An east coast US citycoast US city• (a) 1700-1850(a) 1700-1850• (b) 1850-1910(b) 1850-1910• (c) 20(c) 20thth

centurycentury

Suburban SprawlSuburban Sprawlo Suburban SprawlSuburban Sprawl

• Patchwork of vacant and developed tracts Patchwork of vacant and developed tracts around the edges of citiesaround the edges of cities

o ProblemsProblems• Loss of wetlandsLoss of wetlands• Air pollutionAir pollution• Water pollutionWater pollution• Loss of biological Loss of biological

habitathabitato 11 states now have 11 states now have

new growth management laws (Smart Growth)new growth management laws (Smart Growth)

Making Cities More SustainableMaking Cities More Sustainable

o Characteristics of a sustainable cityCharacteristics of a sustainable city• Clear, cohesive urban growth policiesClear, cohesive urban growth policies• Efficient use of energy and other resources Efficient use of energy and other resources • Reduction of pollution and wasteReduction of pollution and waste

• Reuse and recycle materials in waste streamReuse and recycle materials in waste stream• Large areas of green spaceLarge areas of green space• Designed to be people-centers, not car-Designed to be people-centers, not car-

centeredcentered• Food grown Food grown ININ the city (rooftop gardens) the city (rooftop gardens)• Compact developmentCompact development

Copenhagen, DenmarkCopenhagen, DenmarkA People-centered CityA People-centered City

Sustainable CitiesSustainable CitiesCase in Point- Curitiba, BrazilCase in Point- Curitiba, Brazil