Showing papers on "Urban density published in 1976"

Urban Ecological Containers, Environmental Risk Cells, and the Use of Medical Services

Abstract: The human species has created a new environment—the urban landscape—an artificial one in which the complexity and scale of containment is comparable to the natural. An urban ecology is required so that the new environment may be fully understood. This is critical to understanding urban space as a framework within which health hazards are structured and patterns of therapeutic behavior are manifest by the urban population.An initial empirical exploration of the linkage between the concepts of urban ecological containers, environmental risk cells, and the use of medical services is presented. More specifically, the activity spaces and travel patterns of 243 families residing in a sub-community of the District of Columbia are compared for differential use of urban space beyond the immediate neighborhood. The observed use of the urban landscape by residents of this same community is subsequently observed relative to the location of utilized health services.Substantially different urban ecological containers a...

Urban Economics: Theory and Policy

Abstract: The book deals with the financing of local government expenditure, regulation of urban land-use patterns, limitation of traffic congestion and control of urban environmental decay. The theoretical background is given, followed by a more detailed discussion of current urban problems from the economist's view point. Chapters are included on: the economics of geographical concentration, intra-urban location and land use, the urban labour market, the dynamic urban economy, the theory of city size and spacing, the urban environment, the urban transport problem, urban housing, the urban public economy, urban planning. /TRRL/

Urban Density, Household Crowding and Stress Reactions:

Abstract: A recurrent and central theme in discussions of the quality of life in urban areas is the supposed relationship between population density (people per acre), household crowding (people per room) and social problems. The usual assumption is that these forms of congestion are stressful to individuals and that the resultant stress is manifested in increased rates of physical, psychological and social disorders. Studies in animal biology are the major source of information linking crowding and density

Social benefits of trees in urban environments

Abstract: People have a behavioral need for contact with trees in cities. One cause for the increase in wilderness recreation use and popularity of indoor and outdoor gardening is a basic desire for contact with vegetation. Trees can lend cities a dimension of sensory diversity, visual order and aesthetic pleasure that is lacking. There is a relationship between levels of park use, vandalism or property values in urban areas and their landscape character. These relationships have implications for the planting and preservation of trees in urban environments.

Urban densities for public transportation

Abstract: The report develops relationships to show the suitability of different urban density arrangements to eight modes of public transportation: the taxicab, dial-a-bus, local bus, express bus, light rail, light guideway transit, rapid transit and commuter rail. Differences in transit ridership among urban areas are largely explained by areawide density, downtown size measured in nonresidential floorspace and the existence of rail transit. Operating and capital costs of the eight modes are examined. At any particular residential density, the demand level will vary depending on the area's distance from a non-resident concentration, and on the size and character of that concentration. For a minimum cost per passenger, downtowns of about 10, 15, and 35 million square feet of non-residential floorspace provide minimum, intermediate, and frequent service, respectively. Express buses to which passengers walk must be confined to large cities, and can only operate at very low frequencies. Park-and-ride express bus service can provide low and intermediate service frequencies to downtowns in the 20 to 50 million square foot range or larger. Light rail is promising for downtowns in the 35 to 50 million square foot range. The present generation of automated light guideway transit is limited to special applications, not to line haul use with its high peaks. Rapid transit to a downtown of 50 million square feet of total non-residential floor-space appears to be possible, if favorable construction conditions exist. Residential densities as low as 1 to 2 dwellings per acre can support commuter rail if the route connects to a very large downtown.

Urban environmental problems and planning strategies in Tropical Africa: The example of Nigeria

Abstract: Although various social and economic problems associated with urban development in Tropical Africa have received considerable attention by social scientists, less attention has been paid to the physical problems. The paper outlines the relationship between urban environmental problems in Tropical Africa and the processes of urban development in the region. The paper shows that the urban environmental problems of Tropical Africa are mainly associated with the process of uncontrolled urban settlement, the poverty of a large proportion of urban dwellers and the discriminatory housing policy of many countries in the region. With specific reference to Nigeria, the paper characterizes the urban environmental problems of Tropical Africa. These include poor housing quality, bad layout of streets, poor drainage, lack of facilities for solid waste disposal and water pollution. Finally, the paper suggests some strategies for ameliorating the urban environmental problems in Nigeria.

India’s Urban Constituencies

Abstract: This is an analysis of voting trends in urban India since 1952. Urban and rural constituencies are compared on the basis of politicization radicalization and polarization. With regional variations Indias urban constituencies are more politicized than the rural areas. Political participation in urban areas is linked to turnout patterns in the surrounding countryside. Electoral trends from 1952-1972 show rural and urban areas converging with respect to political participation levels. Radicalism in urban areas is also linked to patterns in the neighboring rural areas but higher. Polarization i.e. closeness of electoral results is higher in urban areas. With respect to both polarization and radicalization voting trends for the 1952-1972 period show urban areas becoming more distinctive and less like their neighboring rural areas. Graphs and tables present the data from this political analysis.

The Dimensions of Reformism in Urban Policy Analysis

Abstract: In a recent survey of research in the field of urban policy, Kirlin and Erie (1972) note that a recurring theme in these studies is the role which the form of city government plays in policy formulation and outputs. However, despite the widespread use of governmental structure as an independent variable, research results have been inconclusive about determining the effect which the form of government has on policy. Two studies in particular illustrate this point. Lineberry and Fowler (1967) and Clark (1968) both treat &dquo;reformism&dquo; in city government as a continuous variable in their studies, but they arrive at opposite findings about the influence of this variable. Lineberry and Fowler argue that reformism is important because it insulates urban policy from social cleavages. On the other hand, Clark finds other variables more influential in explaining urban policies. The central point of this research note is to demonstrate that reformism is a complex variable and to suggest that part of the confusion about the nature of this variable can be traced to its conceptualization and to the way in which it is operationalized in current research. In the future, research designs can benefit from the dimensional analysis of the variable given here.

A conceptual framework for the location of public facilities in the urban areas of developing countries: the Nigerian case

Abstract: The provision of adequate public services to their urban populations within the constraints of financial resources is a major problem of most developing countries. The fact that the few available facilities are unevenly distributed in the urban areas suggests a need for efficient physical planning of public services. This paper suggests a conceptual framework for the provision of public services in Nigerian urban areas. The paper identifies the supply and demand factors which should govern the distribution of public services in the urban areas of the country.

Fieldwork in urban geography: Assessing environmental quality

Abstract: In this paper the idea of measuring environmental quality in urban areas is considered. The scope and limitations of field appraisal techniques are illustrated with reference to a schedule designed to provide an index of environmental quality within primary residential areas, and tested in Sheffield. It is suggested that the results of such surveys could make a valuable contribution not only to studies of urban morphology, but also to studies of urban residential structure. Furthermore, the method provides a useful addition to the stock of field study techniques available to geographers.

Urban Problems and the Theoretical Justification of Urban Planning

Abstract: more plans for each dollar of per capita expenditure. He also attempted to evaluate the impact of agency age and several characteristics (wealth, population size, governmental organization) of the metropolitan area on agency output. The other studies, which reached somewhat different conclusions, isolated the distinguishing characteristics of the different processes employed by different planning agencies. In addition they explored the extent to which actual agency practice was consistent with a conceptually rigorous, ideal planning process. These studies provide valuable evidence about planning agency behavior; yet they neglect several important questions about professional planning. Have planners responded to socie-

Housing and Urban Planning

Abstract: The history of the building pattern of the Netherlands is still traceable in almost every old town or city. The Dutch built well and it is as if every house built was never torn down. Most buildings are of brick or stone; wooden frames do not fare well in the damp, inclement climate. Moreover, centuries of habitation and shipbuilding have denuded the Netherlands of any stands of hard timber that have existed.

The planning implication of the present structure of urban economics in traditional Nigerian cities

Abstract: (1976). The planning implication of the present structure of urban economics in traditional Nigerian cities. Planning Outlook: Vol. 18, No. 1-2, pp. 19-34.