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land cover
the vegetation and manufactured structure that cover land (such as trees, crops, wetlands, water, buildings, & pavement)
Land use
the human activities that occur on land and are directly related to land use (such as farming, grazing, logging, mining, residential, commercial, industrial)
Urban area
mostly developed land covered mainly with buildings and roads (population size > 2500)
Rural area
Area not majorly developed, population size < 2500
Urbanization
A process when people move out of a rural area towards areas with more or better jobs.
infrastructure
The physical and organizational levels that provide essential services to people.
Greenway
Strips of vegetated open space that connects parts or neighborhoods, often located along streams, rivers, or old railroads
Heat island
An urban area that experiences higher temperatures than nearby rural areas, or when areas experience hotter temperatures in a city
sprawl
the spread of low-density urban or suburban development outward from a dense urban core
city planning
an approach of designing cities in order to maximize their functionality and beauty
geographic information system
A computer system that analyzes and displays geographically referenced information.
zoning
classifying area for different types of development and land use
urban growth boundary
a line that city planners can draw to distinguish urban areas from designated rural areas
smart growth
a philosophy of urban growth that focuses on economic and environment approaches that encourage sustainable development
ecological restoration
the practice of restoring native ecological communities.
What are three negative impacts of cities? Explain each.
pollution - high use of vechicles, industrial activites, and energy consumption lead to smog which may cause respiratory illness and other health problems.
heat islands - increases energy consumption (due to higher air conditioning use), exacerbate air pollution, and can lead to heat-related health risks
resource demands - lead to overexploitation of natural resources, strain on infrastructure, and increased waste production. As cities expand, they often rely on surrounding rural areas for resources, which can lead to deforestation, depletion of freshwater sources, and increased greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and production.
What are three positive effects of cities? Explain each.
Travel Efficiency: helps decrease fuel consumption, air pollution and commuting costs while making daily travel more convenient for residents
Reduced Land Area Footprints: efficiency in land use allows for more sustainable living arrangements and lower per-capita environmental impact
Land Preservation: by keeping infrastructure within a smaller geographic areas, cities help preserve landscapes, forests and agriculture; supports biodiversity, protects ecosystem and maintains green spaces
How are per capita land consumption and sprawl related?
Per capita per land consumption is the average land a person consumes which directly contribute to sprawl. (As per capita increases, sprawl increases.)
Causes of Sprawl
Suburban areas offer more space per person
Jobs move to city outskirts
Housing prices are more affordable
Suburban areas are considered safer
How does sprawl affect transportation?
Increased reliance on cars and fossil fuel consumption
More traffic accidents and more time consuming
Loss of public transport infrastructure
Distance makes walking and biking unrealistic
How sprawl affect pollution?
increased use of cars creates more carbon emissions
Increased pavement and land cover change results in more runoff
How does sprawl affect public health?
Increased reliance on cars and lack of pedestrian infrastructure results in less physical movement
Inactivity increased the risk of obesity and other health problems
How does sprawl affect land use?
More land cover is changed from a natural land cover to a developed one
Results in a loss of ecosystem services and biodiversity
How does sprawl affect economy?
movement of wealthy taxpayers out of urban areas can result in urban blight
Due to a lack of funds needed to maintain infrastructure
Benefits of Zoning
Seperated manufacturing factories from neighborhoods or schools
Keeps landfills away from agricultural or residential land
Benefits of Urban Growth Boundaries
prevents development from expanding out of the designated urban area
encourages cities to build up, not out
Benefits of Smart Growth
Wants to maintain open spaces by developing and revitalizing existing developed areas, such as former industrial sites
Urban Blight
The deterioration and decay of an urban area.
Three Main Causes of Urban Blight
Increased Roadways
Job Loss
Population Shifts to the Suburbs
How do transportation options impact environmental and public health?
overall efficiency
Efficiency per person (like the max amount of people in a car)
Biking and walking
Global warming
Increased risk of obesity and increased risk of blood pressure
Why are parks and green spaces important to environmental and public health?
Having safe and collaborative parks and green spaces encourage people to be outside
Gives a sense of place
Decreases sedentary (not very active) lifestyles
What are two common ways to incorporate greenways into an urban environment?
railroad trails
long waterways
What is a ‘green’ building?
A sustainable building that uses less resources when compared to building utilized standard designs and features.
What is LEED & what does the acronym stand for?
The U.S.’ standard for green buildings.
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
One way that densely populated cities can help conserve wildlife habitat
allowes people to live on less land
Why do environmental scientists study land cover?
As human populations grow and change, the land cover of an areas chages as well.
Changing land covers impacts environmental quality
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