Environmental and Health Impacts of Urbanization

Today’s Talk

Major Points

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Urban Density (persons per hectare)

Sprawl, defined:

Changes in residential development styles:  large-lot housing

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Roots of Sprawl

Las Vegas map and total population

Las Vegas, 1972

Las Vegas, 1986

Las Vegas, 1992

Problems with Sprawl

Environmental impacts of low-density land development -- aka Sprawl:

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Croton Watershed within the NYC Water Supply System

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Air Quality

Relationship between HH density and VMT:

Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Per Capita, 1960-1995

Contribution of Highway Vehicles to Total U.S. Emissions of CO, NOx, and VOC, 1996

Air Quality Impacts

Pedestrian Safety

Urban form and physical activity

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Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1986

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1987

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1988

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1989

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1990

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1991

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1992

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1993

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1994

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1995

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1996

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1997

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1998

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 1999

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2000

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults
BRFSS, 2001

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Car Free City Center, 1996

Bicycles in Copenhagen

Public Spaces & Public Life

What Is an Urban Heat Island?

NY Regional
Temperature Trends

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Heat-Related Mortality:
as Public Health Issue

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Relevant Risk Factors for
 Heat-Related Mortality

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Cool City Project:
NYC Urban Heat Island
Mitigation & Research

Mitigation Measures:
Light-Colored Surfaces and Trees

Methodology: Energy and Air-Quality Analysis

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Reflective Pavements are Cooler

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 Potential National Savings from Changing Roof Reflectivity

Objectives of A Cool City Project

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As the human population and land development increases, more and more habitats are impacted. Today, we may be losing 30,000 species a year -- a rate much “faster than at any time since the last great extinction 65 million years ago that wiped out most of the dinosaurs.  Estimated rate is 1,000 - 10,000 times above normal “background level.”

Native New Yorkers:  Some endangered local species

Goals? Research to understand the interactions between land-use and public health priorities, and “smart growth” rather than sprawl: