scholarly journals Houston, We Have a Gentrification Problem

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-198
Author(s):  
Madeline Marguerite Byers
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Environmental Hazards ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Environmental Improvement ◽  
Government Planning ◽  
Land Use Policies ◽  
Hazardous Pollutants

Local environmental improvement plans are increasingly popular among urban planners. As climate change and environmental justice concerns increase, many communities demand a change in local land use policies that put these concerns at the forefront. One such community is the city of Houston, Texas, which issued several environmental improvement plans in recent years after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. As used in this Comment, an environmental improvement plan is a local government planning initiative that aims to implement positive environmental change in urban areas historically burdened by environmental hazards. Such neighborhoods are often undeveloped, low-socioeconomic communities blighted by an accumulation of hazardous pollutants. These communities lack open, green space, clean and affordable natural resources, and resiliency against natural disasters. However, when cities successfully implement environmental improvement plans, targeted neighborhoods often undergo gentrification, thereby displacing the poorer community members into another area blighted by the same environmental hazards the plan was intended to protect them from. This Comment seeks to explore the intended benefits of Houston’s various environmental improvement initiatives, to evaluate the current gentrification trends in Houston neighborhoods targeted for improvement, and to highlight the potential future concerns for vulnerable Houston neighborhoods as these new land-use policies go into effect. Environmental improvement plans are an important and necessary aspect of responsible and sustainable development, but, if implemented without regard to possible gentrification effects, they can have negative, unintended consequences on a city’s diversity and economic health. Fortunately, there are ways that city planners and community members can mitigate these negative effects and ensure positive change and inclusive growth.

scholarly journals Urban renewal applicable to an increase in density: Conceptualization of compact-KDT in Vietnam with Hanoi as a case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 88-98
Author(s):  
Tran Minh Tung
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Urban Renewal ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Urban Density ◽  
Residential Units ◽  
Land Use Policies ◽  
High Level

Urban renewal projects are becoming more and more active, especially in public-owned gold land plots in Vietnam's cities center. The re-development of these land resources known as the residentialization: transformation of different land-use functions into new residential areas (also new neighborhoods) - the KDTM ({Khu Do Thi Moi} abbreviated in Vietnamese) - is increasing the urban density in these areas. Vietnam uses three factors to control urban density: building density; number of floors and/or height of the building; floor area ratio. The current tasks of land-use policies are the determination of an urban density that can adapt to the development of urban space; take full advantage of the land value increment, boost investments without causing any consequences because of the overcrowded population. The residential units will be called compact units when their (occupancy) density exceeds the threshold of 300 persons/ha. For the Compact-KDT concept (compacted KDTM), it is recommended to have: (1) the average level of compactness corresponding to the density of 300 to 600 persons/ha; (2a) the high level of compactness to be controlled - 600 to 1200 persons/ha; (2b) the high level of compactness to be strictly controlled and applied in some exceptional cases - 1200 to 2000 persons/ha; (3) the extremely high level of compactness to be avoided - more than 2000 persons/ha. A Compact-KDT always guarantees the functions of a "normal" KDTM, there are some functionalities that should be added: organization of land-use and spatial functions; public spaces; internal traffic; and reducing energy consumption and the use of non-recyclable natural resources. Rather than being passive to fluctuations in urban density, this increase can be accommodated with a calm and fair attitude by analyzing adverse consequences and the benefits of this process, not just negative effects for the development of urban space, the concentration of population and the economic growth of cities. Keywords: urban renewal; urban density; new urban areas/new residential areas (KDTM - Khu Do Thi Moi); residentialization; (new) compact urban areas (Compacted KDTM/Compact-KDT).

scholarly journals Pollination services enhanced with urbanization despite increasing pollinator parasitism

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1833) ◽  
pp. 20160561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Theodorou ◽  
Rita Radzevičiūtė ◽  
Josef Settele ◽  
Oliver Schweiger ◽  
Tomás E. Murray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Pollination Success ◽  
Flower Visitation ◽  
Visitation Rates ◽  
Crithidia Bombi ◽  
Agricultural Areas

Animal-mediated pollination is required for the reproduction of the majority of angiosperms, and pollinators are therefore essential for ecosystem functioning and the economy. Two major threats to insect pollinators are anthropogenic land-use change and the spread of pathogens, whose effects may interact to impact pollination. Here, we investigated the relative effects on the ecosystem service of pollination of (i) land-use change brought on by agriculture and urbanization as well as (ii) the prevalence of pollinator parasites, using experimental insect pollinator-dependent plant species in natural pollinator communities. We found that pollinator habitat (i.e. availability of nesting resources for ground-nesting bees and local flower richness) was strongly related to flower visitation rates at the local scale and indirectly influenced plant pollination success. At the landscape scale, pollination was positively related to urbanization, both directly and indirectly via elevated visitation rates. Bumblebees were the most abundant pollinator group visiting experimental flowers. Prevalence of trypanosomatids, such as the common bumblebee parasite Crithidia bombi, was higher in urban compared with agricultural areas, a relationship which was mediated through higher Bombus abundance. Yet, we did not find any top-down, negative effects of bumblebee parasitism on pollination. We conclude that urban areas can be places of high transmission of both pollen and pathogens.

Problems of Development of Small and Medium Russian Towns

2019 ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
V V. Kafidov ◽  
V. N. Filippov ◽  
I. P. Filippova
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Fundamental Factor ◽  
New Buildings

The presented study addresses the problems of development of small and medium towns in Russia. Aim. The study aims to examine a town as a socio-economic environment where its residents exist and as the fundamental factor for the development of society.Tasks. The authors identify key problems in the development of small and medium Russian towns, which interferes with the historical appearance and has a negative impact on the living environment.Methods. Problems in the development of small and medium towns in Russia are examined using theoretical methods: systematic approach, statistical analysis, social and philosophical analysis.Results. The study identifies the main negative effects of the existing model of development of small and medium Russian towns, such as destruction of their historical and cultural appearance, distortion of the overall architectural motif, increased load on communications, and congestion of the transport infrastructure.Conclusions. At the current stage, efficient development of small and medium towns in Russia is impossible within the framework of the existing infill development. This chaotic process cannot be stopped without a new conceptual approach and changes in the legislative and normative framework of urban development. The only factor that determines the boundaries of the existing approach to urban development is the lack of physical space for new buildings in urban areas. The authors formulate proposals that would help to solve the problems of development of small and medium towns in Russia. 

IMPACTS OF URBAN LAND USE ON CRIME PATTERNS THROUGH GIS APPLICATION

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Nazri Muhamad Ludin ◽  
Norsiah Abd. Aziz ◽  
Nooraini Hj Yusoff ◽  
Wan Juliyana Wan Abd Razak
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Spatial Relationship ◽  
Police Department ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Urban Land ◽  
Urban Land Use ◽  
Land Use Patterns

Land use planning plays a crucial role in creating a balance between the needs of society, physical development and the ecosystem. However, most often poor planning and displacement of land uses particularly in urban areas contribute to social ills such as drug abuse and criminal activities. This research explains the spatial relationship of drug abuse and other criminal activities on urban land use planning and their implications on the society at large. Spatial statistics was used to show patterns, trends and spatial relationships of crimes and land use planning. Data on crime incidents were obtained from the Royal Malaysia Police Department whilst cases of drug abuse were collected from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). Analysis of the data together with digital land use maps produced by Arnpang Jaya Municipal Council, showed the distribution of crime incidents and drug abuse in the area. Findings of the study also indicated that, there was a strong relationship between petty crimes, drng abuse and land use patterns. These criminal activities tend to concentrate in residential and commercial areas of the study area.

scholarly journals Spatial-Temporal Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Urban Areas Using Remote Sensing Images and GIS Analysis: The Case Study of Opole, Poland

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Barbara Wiatkowska ◽  
Janusz Słodczyk ◽  
Aleksandra Stokowska
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Management Procedures

Urban expansion is a dynamic and complex phenomenon, often involving adverse changes in land use and land cover (LULC). This paper uses satellite imagery from Landsat-5 TM, Landsat-8 OLI, Sentinel-2 MSI, and GIS technology to analyse LULC changes in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. The research was carried out in Opole, the capital of the Opole Agglomeration (south-western Poland). Maps produced from supervised spectral classification of remote sensing data revealed that in 20 years, built-up areas have increased about 40%, mainly at the expense of agricultural land. Detection of changes in the spatial pattern of LULC showed that the highest average rate of increase in built-up areas occurred in the zone 3–6 km (11.7%) and above 6 km (10.4%) from the centre of Opole. The analysis of the increase of built-up land in relation to the decreasing population (SDG 11.3.1) has confirmed the ongoing process of demographic suburbanisation. The paper shows that satellite imagery and GIS can be a valuable tool for local authorities and planners to monitor the scale of urbanisation processes for the purpose of adapting space management procedures to the changing environment.

scholarly journals Correlating elements content in mosses collected in 2015 across Germany with spatially associated characteristics of sampling sites and their surroundings

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Nickel ◽  
Winfried Schröder
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Spatial Density ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Tree Layer

Abstract Background The aim of the study was a statistical evaluation of the statistical relevance of potentially explanatory variables (atmospheric deposition, meteorology, geology, soil, topography, sampling, vegetation structure, land-use density, population density, potential emission sources) correlated with the content of 12 heavy metals and nitrogen in mosses collected from 400 sites across Germany in 2015. Beyond correlation analysis, regression analysis was performed using two methods: random forest regression and multiple linear regression in connection with commonality analysis. Results The strongest predictor for the content of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and N in mosses was the sampled species. In 2015, the atmospheric deposition showed a lower predictive power compared to earlier campaigns. The mean precipitation (2013–2015) is a significant factor influencing the content of Cd, Pb and Zn in moss samples. Altitude (Cu, Hg and Ni) and slope (Cd) are the strongest topographical predictors. With regard to 14 vegetation structure measures studied, the distance to adjacent tree stands is the strongest predictor (Cd, Cu, Hg, Zn, N), followed by the tree layer height (Cd, Hg, Pb, N), the leaf area index (Cd, N, Zn), and finally the coverage of the tree layer (Ni, Cd, Hg). For forests, the spatial density in radii 100–300 km predominates as significant predictors for Cu, Hg, Ni and N. For the urban areas, there are element-specific different radii between 25 and 300 km (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, N) and for agricultural areas usually radii between 50 and 300 km, in which the respective land use is correlated with the element contents. The population density in the 50 and 100 km radius is a variable with high explanatory power for all elements except Hg and N. Conclusions For Europe-wide analyses, the population density and the proportion of different land-use classes up to 300 km around the moss sampling sites are recommended.

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