Effects Urban sprawl

1 effects

1.1 environmental
1.2 health
1.3 safety
1.4 increased infrastructure/transportation costs
1.5 social

effects
environmental

urban sprawl associated number of negative environmental outcomes.

one of major environmental problems associated sprawl land loss, habitat loss , subsequent reduction in biodiversity. review czech , colleagues finds urbanization endangers more species , more geographically ubiquitous in mainland united states other human activity. urban sprawl disruptive native flora & fauna , introduces invasive plants environments. although effects can mitigated through careful maintenance of native vegetation, process of ecological succession , public education, sprawl represents 1 of primary threats biodiversity.

regions high birth rates , immigration therefore faced environmental problems due unplanned urban growth , emerging megacities such kolkata.

other problems include flooding, results increased impervious surfaces roads , parking; increased temperatures heat islands, leads increased risk of mortality in elderly populations;

the urban sprawl of melbourne.

at same time, urban cores of these , other major cities in united states, western europe, , japan did not annex new territory experienced related phenomena of falling household size and, particularly in u.s., white flight , sustaining population losses. trend has slowed in recent years, more people have regained interest in urban living.

due larger area consumed sprawling suburbs compared urban neighborhoods, more farmland , wildlife habitats displaced per resident. forest cover cleared , covered impervious surfaces (concrete , asphalt) in suburbs, rainfall less absorbed groundwater aquifers. threatens both quality , quantity of water supplies. sprawl increases water pollution rain water picks gasoline, motor oil, heavy metals, , other pollutants in runoff parking lots , roads.

the chicago metro area, nicknamed chicagoland .

gordon & richardson have argued conversion of agricultural land urban use not problem due increasing efficiency of agricultural production; argue aggregate agricultural production still more sufficient meet global food needs despite expansion of urban land use.

health

sprawl leads increased driving, , increased driving leads vehicle emissions contribute air pollution , attendant negative impacts on human health. in addition, reduced physical activity implied increased automobile use has negative health consequences. sprawl predicts chronic medical conditions , health-related quality of life, not mental health disorders. american journal of public health , american journal of health promotion, have both stated there significant connection between sprawl, obesity, , hypertension.

in years following world war ii, when vehicle ownership becoming widespread, public health officials recommended health benefits of suburbs due soot , industrial fumes in city center. however, air in modern suburbs not cleaner air in urban neighborhoods. in fact, polluted air on crowded highways, people in suburbs tend spend more time. on average, suburban residents generate more per capita pollution , carbon emissions urban counterparts because of increased driving.

safety

a heavy reliance on automobiles increases traffic throughout city automobile crashes, pedestrian injuries, , air pollution. motor vehicle crashes leading cause of death americans between ages of 5 , twenty-four , leading accident-related cause age groups. residents of more sprawling areas @ greater risk of dying in car crash due increased exposure driving. evidence indicates pedestrians in sprawling areas @ higher risk in denser areas, although relationship less clear drivers , passengers in vehicles.

research covered in journal of economic issues , state , local government review shows link between sprawl , emergency medical services response , fire department response delays.

increased infrastructure/transportation costs

living in larger, more spread out spaces makes public services more expensive. since car usage becomes endemic , public transport becomes more expensive, city planners forced build highway , parking infrastructure, in turn decreases taxable land , revenue, , decreases desirability of area adjacent such structures. providing services such water, sewers, , electricity more expensive per household in less dense areas.

residents of low-density areas spend higher proportion of income on transportation residents of high density areas. rac estimates average cost of operating car in uk £5,000 year, of stems financing costs , depreciation.

major cities - per capita petrol use vs. population density


social

urban sprawl may partly responsible decline in social capital in united states. compact neighborhoods can foster casual social interactions among neighbors, while sprawl creates barriers. sprawl tends replace public spaces private spaces such fenced-in backyards.

critics of sprawl maintain sprawl erodes quality of life. duany , plater-zyberk believe in traditional neighborhoods nearness of workplace retail , restaurant space provides cafes , convenience stores daytime customers essential component successful balance of urban life. furthermore, state closeness of workplace homes gives people option of walking or riding bicycle work or school , without kind of interaction between different components of life urban pattern falls apart. james howard kunstler has argued poor aesthetics in suburban environments make them places not worth caring , , lack sense of history , identity.

urban sprawl has class , racial implications in many parts of world; relative homogeneity of many sprawl developments may reinforce class , racial divides through residential segregation.

numerous studies link increased population density increased aggression. people believe increased population density encourages crime , anti-social behavior. argued human beings, while social animals, need significant amounts of social space or become agitated , aggressive. however, relationship between higher densities , increased social pathology has been largely discredited.