Name _____TEACHER KEY
Period _______ Date ______________
Chapter 14.2 Environmental Science – Urban Land Use Chart
Directions: Fill in the information from the classroom or online chart.
Environmental Science Standard and element:
SEV5. Students will recognize that human beings are part of the global ecosystem and will evaluate the
effects of human activities and technology on ecosystems.
c.) Explain how human activities affect global and local sustainability.
d.) Describe the actual and potential effects of habitat destruction, erosion, and depletion of soil fertility
associated with human activities.
e.) Describe the effects and potential implications of pollution and resource depletion on the environment at
the local and global levels (e.g. air and water pollution, solid waste disposal, depletion of the
stratospheric ozone, global warming, and land uses).
STUDENT CHECKLIST
1.) Put the chart in your Science Notebook behind the Chapter 14 Word Study after it has
been checked.
2.) The CHART was accurate and complete with no abbreviated information.
3.) The Information was written neatly and large and dark enough to be easily seen.
4.) All information was complete with no grammar or spelling errors.
____yes
____yes
____yes
____yes
____no
____no
____no
____no
Urbanization is the movement of people from rural areas to cities. Urban areas that grow
slowly over time are usually pleasant places to live with lots of green spaces such as parks
and recreational areas mixed in with buildings, roads, and parking lots.
IMPACTS OF SLOW COMPARED TO FAST URBAN GROWTH
Slow urban growth

Urban crisis (fast
growth)
1.
2.
3.

1.
2.
green spaces are usually includedsuch as parks and
recreational areas which provide ecosystem services
moderation of temperature
infiltration of rainwater runoff
aesthetic value
fast growing urban areas frequently have trouble
infrastructures are overwhelmed such as roads, sewers,
railroads, bridges, canals, fire and police stations, schools,
libraries, hospitals, water mains, and power lines
leads to traffic jams, substandard housing, polluted air and
water, living conditions are unhealthy
IMPACTS OF URBANIZATION
Development of
marginal lands (land
poorly suited for
buildings)



Heat islands (places
that hold more heat
because of the
materials they are
made of)





houses built on the side of hills or mountains prone to
landslides and forest fires
buildings built on coastlines that erode due to natural ocean
currents
buildings built in land basins or drained swamps prone to
flooding
buildings built over old mines or poor soil prone to sinkholes
cement holds more heat than dirt (Atlanta is a heat island)
roads and buildings hold more heat than vegetation
local weather patterns are affected causing higher
temperatures
solutions include having more parks with vegetation, and
installing rooftops that reflect heat back into space rather
than retain heat
URBAN PLANNING
Land-use planning



GIS (geographic information center)

Transportation planning

Open Space

residential housing and apartments
are located on safe land that is not
prone to flooding, landslides, or
sinkholes
green spaces are provided for with
enough vegetation and dirt to prevent
heat islands
infrastructure is built for the exact
number of people living in an area
software that has information about a
regions geographic data
1. tells where flooding occurs
2. where soft soil is located
3. predicts where sinkholes could
occur
bus routes and mass transportation
such as Marta or subways planned
ahead of time eliminates the
following:
1. traffic jams
2. pollution from vehicle exhaust
3. limits loss of land to parking
areas
4. saves money for masses of
people who don't need cars to
get to work
greenbelts could be planned for and
built ahead of time (spaces left in their
natural condition)
1. plants absorb carbon dioxide,
produce oxygen, and filter out
pollutants from air and water
2. plants keep cities cooler in
summer
3. land with vegetation absorbs
rainwater runoff preventing
flooding
4. provides natural places for
recreation and exercise