2. The movement of
people from rural
areas to cities.
Mostly caused by
people searching
for jobs
3. Urban areas that grow
quickly:
◦ Not enough infrastructure
to support so many
people
Traffic jams b/c not enough
roads
Overcrowded schools b/c
not enough school buildings
Overflowing or
malfunctioning sewer
systems
◦ Too many people can
cause living conditions
for all to deteriorate-
called urban crisis.
Shanty town on the outskirts of
Hong Kong
4. Urban areas that
grow slowly:
◦ Roads & public
transportation are built
to handle growth.
◦ Traffic flows easily.
◦ Green spaces &
recreational areas are
planned.
Green spaces provide
temperature moderation
for the city, a place for
rainwater to seep into
soil (instead of flooding)
and a place to relax.
5. Areas on the
outskirts of a city.
People usually
commute into city
via car or public
transportation.
When city expands
to countryside its
called urban sprawl.
6. 1. Marginal Land Use
Land that is not suitable
for building
◦ Mountain sides
◦ Coastal areas
If city is poorly planned
for future growth then
suburbs may expand into
marginal lands.
◦ Ex: Los Angeles was built
in a valley. As population
grew, people moved up the
side of mountains to build
homes. Homes subject to
landslides.
7. 2. Heat Island Effect
Cities are warmer than rural
areas
Roads/buildings trap and
store more heat than
vegetation.
Can alter local weather
patterns
◦ Hot air in city rises, cools,
causes rain
◦ If fewer green spaces to
absorb rainfall then have more
flooding
Heat leads to human health
problems- heat stroke
Urban Heat Islands on The
Weather Channel - YouTube
8. Land-use planning-
determining in
advance how land
will be used
◦ Where will houses go?
◦ Where will businesses
be located?
◦ What areas should be
protected for
recreation & wildlife?
◦ Where will our water
come from?
9. Mass Transit systems
◦ Buses
◦ Trains (NY subway,
MARTA, Maglevs)
Using mass transit
◦ Saves energy
◦ Reduces traffic
◦ Reduces air pollution
◦ Decreases land covered
by road/parking lot b/c
can be built above/below
ground.
Maglevs are magnetic
levitation trains. Use
magnets to start, stop,
propel the train.
Maglev train video
clip- The Futures
Channel
10. Open Spaces (aka
greenbelts)
◦ Land within urban area
set aside for scenic &
recreational enjoyment.
Ex: parks, gardens, bike
trails, hiking trails
◦ Important for
Pollution filtration
CO2 removal
Temperature control
Absorbing water from
rainstorm runoff
Exercise & relaxation
11. Transforming 22 miles
of old railroad track
into space for walking,
biking, recreation.
First part is complete.
Government trying to
raise money for entire
project
BeltLine Provides New
Life to Railroad Tracks
in Atlanta -
NYTimes.com
12. Geographic
Information Systems
(GIS)- computerized
system for storing,
manipulating, &
viewing geographic
data.
Allows planner to see
layers of information
so can see what is
present and what could
be added/altered to an
area.
13. Land-Use planning
is difficult to follow
through with b/c
◦ Government requires
environmental impact
reports of any
building projects
◦ Citizens have right to
comment on reports
◦ Many disagreements
over plans
14. Describe the urban crisis & explain how
people are addressing it.
Explain how urban areas create heat islands.
Explain how open spaces provide
environmental benefits to urban areas.
Describe how a GIS system can be used as a
land use planning tool.
Editor's Notes
Infrastructure was introduced in an earlier chapter. Infrastructure is anything that a society builds for public use. Roads, bridges, canals, water treatment plants, power lines, police stations, schools, libraries, hospitals are all examples.
The more concrete & asphalt surfaces you have in a city, the more likely you will see flooding on streets during heavy rains. When you have green areas near roads the soil acts like a sponge and soaks up rainwater. Concrete/asphalt do not have the capacity to act like a sponge.
Concrete buildings absorb and retain a lot of heat. Green spaces that contain trees, grass, soil will reflect this heat or trap and use it so city doesn’t get too hot.
Suburbs are usually built on farmland or in denuded forests. If population grows & urban sprawl continues, where will we grow our food?
