Sir David Borough once said, “Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth in a finite environment is either a madman or an economist”. Though fundamental resources such as food, water, minerals, and air, are abundant they remain finite (Bjørn et al., 2017), with the fast pace of the world’s urbanization growth threatening their inevitable scarcity.
To accommodate the rising urban population, an excessive spreading of urban development outwards of cities and into lower density regions occurs, this phenomenon is known as urban sprawl. Whilst this definition may capture the broad essence of the term, it is by no means totally inclusive; the term has a variety of definitions with not one universally agreed on (Ismael, 2020). The definitions vary in terms of approaches to measurements and causes, most apparent is the mention of urban density – number of inhabitants in an urban region – (Habibi & Asadi, 2011), and a seemingly consistent recognition of the governmental regulatory part in intervening and indorsing urban sprawl. (Jiating, 2021; Liu et al., 2021). When a concept is not accurately or at least agreeably defined, measuring it becomes difficult and complex, this complexity creates a sense of anonymity (no concrete knowledge) that perhaps influences the saliency of the issue by drawing intrigue.
With the rapid increase in population is a proportional increase in consumption levels, which in part decreases the available natural resources per individual. (Thomas, 2010) This results in a scarcity of resources, amplified when the infrastructure of the region -often low-density- is not able to accommodate the increased demand. To counteract scarcity, one must increase supply. Depending on the region however, increasing supply may not be simple. For instance, in Beijing farmers were not welcome to the idea of increasing import, as it clashed with their self-sufficient way of life. (Kaiman, 2015).
With resource scarcity falls the issue of resource misallocation, yet again governmental policies have a part to play.
An aspect unique to urban sprawl recognized across studies is its multidimensional behavior. One research condenses them into four dimensions: economic, population, land use, and infrastructure. (Jiating, 2021) Similarly another article summarizes many studies on urban sprawl, displaying the causes as economic, demographic (population), Housing, Transportation, and Infrastructure. (Habibi & Asadi, 2011).
We have long evolved into this urban ideal that it may be too late to start over. Thus, with the resources we are provided, is it not better to control and regulate into a better future. For the issue is urgent and strong governance is necessary with the evolution of new urbanization
To accommodate the rising urban population, an excessive spreading of urban development outwards of cities and into lower density regions occurs, this phenomenon is known as urban sprawl. Whilst this definition may capture the broad essence of the term, it is by no means totally inclusive; the term has a variety of definitions with not one universally agreed on (Ismael, 2020). The definitions vary in terms of approaches to measurements and causes, most apparent is the mention of urban density – number of inhabitants in an urban region – (Habibi & Asadi, 2011), and a seemingly consistent recognition of the governmental regulatory part in intervening and indorsing urban sprawl. (Jiating, 2021; Liu et al., 2021). When a concept is not accurately or at least agreeably defined, measuring it becomes difficult and complex, this complexity creates a sense of anonymity (no concrete knowledge) that perhaps influences the saliency of the issue by drawing intrigue.
With the rapid increase in population is a proportional increase in consumption levels, which in part decreases the available natural resources per individual. (Thomas, 2010) This results in a scarcity of resources, amplified when the infrastructure of the region -often low-density- is not able to accommodate the increased demand. To counteract scarcity, one must increase supply. Depending on the region however, increasing supply may not be simple. For instance, in Beijing farmers were not welcome to the idea of increasing import, as it clashed with their self-sufficient way of life. (Kaiman, 2015).
With resource scarcity falls the issue of resource misallocation, yet again governmental policies have a part to play.
- Infrastructure. A policy whereby the residents participate in providing, infrastructure costs,
- Health issues – physical (environmental degradation and poor infrastructure)
- Resource management – centralization?
- Politics of urban sprawl
- Fragmentation and decentralization vs centralization
- Moreover, Urban sprawl is rather salient without the added layer of complexity, for it entices the attention of critics to urbanization. -> broader context of urbanization
An aspect unique to urban sprawl recognized across studies is its multidimensional behavior. One research condenses them into four dimensions: economic, population, land use, and infrastructure. (Jiating, 2021) Similarly another article summarizes many studies on urban sprawl, displaying the causes as economic, demographic (population), Housing, Transportation, and Infrastructure. (Habibi & Asadi, 2011).
We have long evolved into this urban ideal that it may be too late to start over. Thus, with the resources we are provided, is it not better to control and regulate into a better future. For the issue is urgent and strong governance is necessary with the evolution of new urbanization
References
Bjørn, A., Bey, N., Georg, S., Røpke, I., & Hauschild, M. Z. (2017). Is Earth recognized as a finite system in corporate responsibility reporting? Journal of Cleaner Production, 163, 106–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.12.095
Ismael, H. (2020). Urban form study: the sprawling city—review of methods of studying urban sprawl. Geojournal, 86(4), 1785-1796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-020-10157-9
Habibi, S., & Asadi, N. (2011). Causes, results and methods of controlling urban sprawl. Procedia Engineering, 21, 133–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.11.1996
Jiating, W., Yu, X., Hongfu, M., & Siyuan, C. (2021). Research on the measurement of urban sprawl with a multi-factor indicator in the context of rapid urbanization in China. China City Planning Review, 30(3), 62-72.
Liu, Y., Nath, N., Murayama, A., & Manabe, R. (2021). Transit-oriented development with urban sprawl? Four phases of urban growth and policy intervention in Tokyo. Land Use Policy, 112, 105854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105854
Homer-Dixon, T. (2010). Environment, Scarcity, and Violence. Princeton: Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400822997
Kaiman, J. (2015, February 15). China's urban sprawl raises key question: can it feed its people? The Guardian. Retrieved from https://global-factiva-com.srv-proxy2.library.tamu.edu/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=GRDN000020150216eb2g0005l&cat=a&ep=ASE
Downs, A. (1999). Some realities about sprawl and urban decline. Housing Policy Debate, 10(4), 955–974. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.1999.9521356
Bjørn, A., Bey, N., Georg, S., Røpke, I., & Hauschild, M. Z. (2017). Is Earth recognized as a finite system in corporate responsibility reporting? Journal of Cleaner Production, 163, 106–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.12.095
Ismael, H. (2020). Urban form study: the sprawling city—review of methods of studying urban sprawl. Geojournal, 86(4), 1785-1796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-020-10157-9
Habibi, S., & Asadi, N. (2011). Causes, results and methods of controlling urban sprawl. Procedia Engineering, 21, 133–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.11.1996
Jiating, W., Yu, X., Hongfu, M., & Siyuan, C. (2021). Research on the measurement of urban sprawl with a multi-factor indicator in the context of rapid urbanization in China. China City Planning Review, 30(3), 62-72.
Liu, Y., Nath, N., Murayama, A., & Manabe, R. (2021). Transit-oriented development with urban sprawl? Four phases of urban growth and policy intervention in Tokyo. Land Use Policy, 112, 105854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105854
Homer-Dixon, T. (2010). Environment, Scarcity, and Violence. Princeton: Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400822997
Kaiman, J. (2015, February 15). China's urban sprawl raises key question: can it feed its people? The Guardian. Retrieved from https://global-factiva-com.srv-proxy2.library.tamu.edu/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=GRDN000020150216eb2g0005l&cat=a&ep=ASE
Downs, A. (1999). Some realities about sprawl and urban decline. Housing Policy Debate, 10(4), 955–974. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.1999.9521356