Why is urban sprawl a problem

Urban sprawl therefore poses significant threats to the commitments to reduce GHG gas emissions. Using fossil fuels also results in the emission of other gases and particulates that degrade air quality note that commuters generate emissions of air pollution, which lowers the ambient quality of the air in areas they pass through and causes health problems for other people.

Longer transportation distances intensify traffic congestion, resulting in lost productivity, and increase the need for more extensive infrastructure such as more highways that negatively impact the environment by increasing the amount of impervious cover and by requiring more natural resources.

Finally, traffic congestion and air pollution from driving contribute to an estimated , fatalities per year worldwide. The impacts of sprawl on natural areas are significant.

The considerable impact of urban sprawl on natural and protected areas is exacerbated by the increased proximity and accessibility of urban activities to natural areas, imposing stress on ecosystems and species through noise and air pollution.

Immediate impacts such as the loss of agricultural and natural land or the fragmentation of forests Figure below , wetlands and other habitats are well known direct and irreversible impacts. Urban land fragmentation, with the disruption of migration corridors for wildlife species, isolates these populations and can reduce natural habitats to such an extent that the minimum area required for the viability of species populations is no longer maintained.

The environmental impacts of sprawl are evident in a number of ecologically sensitive areas located in coastal zones and mountain areas. This problem has been exacerbated by the increased development of golf courses in Spain, where the over-extraction of groundwater has led to salt water intrusion into the groundwater. The growth of European cities in recent years has primarily occurred on former agricultural land.

Typically, urban development and agriculture are competing for the same land, as agricultural lands adjacent to existing urban areas are also ideal for urban expansion. The loss of agricultural land has major impacts on biodiversity with the loss of valuable biotopes for many animals, and particularly birds. Sprawling cities also threaten to consume the best agricultural lands, displacing agricultural activity to both less productive areas requiring higher inputs of water and fertilisers and more remote upland locations with increased risk of soil erosion.

Urban sprawl and the development of urban land dramatically transform the properties of soil, reducing its capacity to perform its essential functions. These impacts are evident in the extent of compaction of soil leading to impairment of soil functions; loss of water permeability soil sealing which dramatically decreases; loss of soil biodiversity, and reductions of the capacity for the soil to act as a carbon sink. In addition, rainwater which falls on sealed areas is heavily polluted by tire abrasion, dust and high concentrations of heavy metals, which when washed into rivers degrade the hydrological system.

Increased erosion and stream siltation causes environmental damage and may affect water treatment plants and thus affect water quality. From a social perspective urban sprawl generates greater segregation of residential development according to income. When choosing your next residence, consider the negative effects of urban sprawl, and their impact on you, your community and the environment. Longer and more frequent commutes are a major concern associated with urban sprawl.

The average American spends 17, minutes behind the steering wheel of a car annually. More driving leads to more air pollution, which can contribute to poor health and smog problems. Spreading out development creates water distribution problems and can lead to water overconsumption. A typical low-density or suburban community uses more water than a high-density city community. Landscaping is the primary culprit for this excessive use of water.

Thirty percent of the water used daily in the United States is devoted to outdoor use. In this article, we dig into the causes of urban sprawl, explain some of its problems, and look at possible solutions.

Urban sprawl is a form of urban growth in which low-density development such as single-family homes of large plots of land takes place over a large area, sometimes extending for miles outside of the urban limits. It is also called suburban sprawl, metropolitan sprawl, and suburbanization. Urban sprawl is a very common type of development in the United States and many other countries around the world.

It is a product of the policy of physical planning for the past years that promoted the development of urban areas along public transportation routes. These areas were designed to be self-sufficient, with access to necessary services such as schools and hospitals. Urban sprawl is often seen as a problem in many parts of the world. It has been criticized for its numerous negative effects on the environment, social life, and economy of cities and the countries they reside in. Urban sprawl started with the industrial revolution in the 19th century, when the economic and population growth facilitated the migration of people from rural to urban areas.

The newly arrived people moved into the city centers, and the areas surrounding the cities were used for agriculture and other industrial activities. The private car became popular in the early s and contributed to the growing popularity of suburban development.

At the same time, the United States and the United Kingdom expanded their road networks. This helped the development of suburbs. In the post-war era, the expansion of transport systems continued, but this time the suburbs were more accessible to the people who wanted to live there. The automobile industry also developed rapidly, which allowed the construction of larger homes and the accessibility of goods and services.

Since the s, the number of people living in the suburbs has increased dramatically, and urban sprawl has become a major issue in many countries around the world. Urban sprawl is a common type of development that has many negative effects on the environment, social life, and economy of cities. The development of urban sprawl increases the need for transport and reduces the land available for agriculture.

This leads to more pollution from transport and, according to the data, more food being imported from other countries. This increases the risk of transporting dangerous substances and the risk of importing food that is not produced to the high standards required in the United States and other developed countries. Urban sprawl has a negative impact on the social life of residents. A lack of public places such as parks and playgrounds limits the opportunities for residents to meet each other and interact.

This can lead to social segregation , and the people living in these areas can become disengage from the rest of the community. Urban sprawl also has a negative effect on the economy of cities. Many people prefer to live in suburbs, but they have to travel to the city center for work.