66-78 Urbanization

APES 2024

Suburb

Suburb

An area surrounding a metropolitan center, with a
comparatively low population density

Exurb

An area similar to a suburb, but unconnected to any
central city or densely populated area

Since 1950 more than 90 percent of the population growth in metropolitan areas has occurred in

suburbs, and two out of three people now live in suburban or exurban communities

Urbanization

the population shift from rural to urban areas

Urbanization cons

• A depletion of resources

• Impervious surfaces – roads, buildings, sidewalks, parking lots – do not allow water to reach the soil, leads to flooding

• Prevents groundwater recharge

How to reduce urban runoff

• Replace traditional pavement with permeable pavement

• Planting trees

• Increased use of public transportation

• Building up, not out (Ex. Afton Ridge)

• Rain garden

Urban sprawl

urbanized areas that spread into rural areas,
removing clear boundaries between the two

4 sources of urban sprawl

• Automobiles and highway construction

• Living costs

• Urban blight

• Government policies

Urban blight

The degradation of the built and social environments of the city that often accompanies and accelerates migration to the suburbs

Urban Heat Island

Occurs when cities replace natural land cover with
pavement, building and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat

Urban Heat Island effects

Increase cost for air conditioning, more air pollution and heat related illnesses

Urban runoff consequences

• Decreased infiltration into ground – less groundwater recharge

• Rain washes pollutants into storm drains and surface waters (Ex. Salt causes plant and insect death)

Sediment causes

turbidity (cloudiness) in water

Fertilizer

leads to eutrophication

Pesticides

kill nontarget species

Oil and gas

suffocate aquatic organisms

Permeable pavement pros

• Designed to allow stormwater to flow through and recharge groundwater

• Less runoff = less pollutants carried into storm drains and other surface waterways

• Less likely to flood

Permeable pavement cons

Costs more than traditional pavement

Rain garden pros

• Habitat for pollinators

• Sense of place – aesthetic value

• Stores CO2

Public transport pros

• Fewer cars on the road

• Less runoff of gas, motor oil, antifreeze, tire pieces

• Less pollution, fewer emissions

Ecological footprint

measure of how much a person/group
consumes expressed in area of land

Factors land is required for

• Food production

• Raw materials

• Housing

• Electricity production

• Disposing of waste

Increases Ecological Footprint

• Affluence (wealth)

• Bigger house

• More travel

• More resources for material goods

• More meat consumption

• Fossil fuel use

Decreases Ecological Footprint

• Using renewable energy

• Using public transportation

• Plant based diet

• Less consumption, less travel
  and less energy use