Urban Environmental Challenges

What are Mixed-Use Neighborhoods?

• Neighborhoods with a mix of residential and commercial buildings

• Exclusively residential neighborhoods with a central business district

• Industrial zones with a central business district

• Recreational areas

Why do cities consume so much energy?

• A concentrated population requires transportation, industry, construction, food production and distribution, water distribution, heating and cooling at high levels

• Low population density related to a strong transportation options relating to low-energy production of goods and services

• Cities' self-sufficiency in energy

• Lack of transportation options

What is a Brownfield?

• An abandoned industrial property that has the potential to be a hazard or pollutant

• Agricultural land protected by the government

• Residential property in suburban areas

• Controlled wildlife reserve

What are farmland protection policies?

• Policies enacted by the government to prevent agricultural land from being developed or used for some other purpose

• Policies enacted by the government in order to help promote urban sprawl and the decrease of habitat destruction

• Commercial zoning regulations

• Wildlife conservation measures

Why is urban wildlife problematic?

• Can spread disease and be a nuisance to people

• Provide beauty and biodiversity to cities

• Do not thrive in urban environments

• Are easily controlled by urban planning

What causes water pollution in urban areas?

• Construction and industry, sewage disposal, chemical waste dumping, contaminated wastewater, oil pollution

• Harmless rainwater runoff

• Residential water usage

• Urban gardening

What is Transportation-Oriented Development?

• Urban planning designed to maximize access to public transport

• Encouraging private vehicle usage through the creation of highways

• Focusing on walkability in cities

• Dispersing transport infrastructure

What factors contribute to urban sprawl?

• Creation of interstate and high-speed highways; presence of inexpensive land on city’s periphery

• Dense population centers

• High-rise buildings

• Public transportation systems

What is New Urbanism?

• A movement in urban planning that emerged with goals including reducing urban sprawl, increasing affordable housing, and creating liveable neighborhoods

• A movement in urban planning that emerged to promote traditional urban planning methods from the 19th century

• Rapid urbanization

• Industrial development

What is Smart Growth?

• A set of policies aimed to preserve farmland and other open, undeveloped spaces near a city

• Unsustainable transportation methods aimed at promoting the smart growth of factory-based industries

• Urban growth without any planning

• Rapid urban development