Sprawling Cities and TransporTFrom Evaluation to Recommendations

Why investigate sprawl?Urban sprawl is increasingly becoming a problem in European cities. It induces high level of car use and, usually, congestion on roads giving access to city centres.It also represents a threat to the achievement of urban sustainability goals:

1. Environmental: low density cities use more energy, consume more land (ecological footprint)

2. Equity: sprawl is a factor of social segregation3. Economy: sprawl imposes hidden costs to

individuals and not so hidden costs to local governments

SCATTERThe SCATTER project is funded by the European Commission under the «Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development Programme» of the 5th Framework Programme, Key Action 4: City of Tomorrow and Cultural Heritage

It aims at improving the understanding of the mechanisms of urban sprawl and its impacts through both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Its purpose is to support the design of accompanying policy measures to prevent, mitigate or control urban sprawl.

Members of CASA involved: Mike Batty, Nancy Chin and Elena Besussi

Cities involvedSCATTER examines sprawl from a theoretical perspective and through case studies. 6 European cities are involved: Bristol, Brussels, Helsinki, Milan, Rennes, Stuttgart

Cities involvedSCATTER examines sprawl from a theoretical perspective and through case studies. 6 European cities are involved: Bristol, Brussels, Helsinki, Milan, Rennes, Stuttgart

Bristol Brussels Helsinki

Milan Rennes Stuttgart

Research structure (1/4)

SCATTER has a life span of 4 years (2001-2004)

Research structure (2/4)

WP1 carries out a literature review of all possible impacts of urban sprawl on urban structure, built forms, economy, social aspects, transport (mobility and accessibility), environment (energy consumption, pollutant emission, vitality of ecosystems). It considers negative impacts as well as positive impacts.

The purpose of WP2 is to detect and understand the local events and rationale involved in the emergence of urban sprawl, its relevance in the decisional agenda of local authorities and experts, and the overall level of awareness of this particular urban phenomenon. Such goals are achieved by analysing interviews conducted with local authorities' representatives and experts in the six case cities of Bristol, Brussels, Helsinki, Milan, Stuttgart and Rennes

The aim of WP3 is to identify urban sprawl and to quantify the effects of urban sprawl by statistical methods.WP3 analyses, for each case city, the features and effects of urban sprawl, by performing a statistical analysis of time series of socio-economic data, concerning a period characterised by a sprawl of the urban activities (households, jobs, retail shops and other services). When possible, the related effects on the pattern of trip demand are also analysed

Research structure (3/4)

WP4 reviews policies aiming to tackle urban sprawl, in Europe and in the USA, as well as barriers to policy implementation. The main goal of the review is to make a selection of measures to be simulated and assessed in the next stage of the project (WP5).

WP5 simulates a selection of policies using integrated land-use/transport models, in a sub-set of case cities (3 cities). In these 3 case cities, a new suburban public transport will be or has been recently implemented. The simulation results will then be used in the impacts assessment of the policies using indicators on the sprawl of the population and employment, transport and environment

WP6 will quantitatively assess the impacts of the simulated measures in terms of sprawl of the population and employment, transport and the environment.The conclusions of this workpackage will include the definition of theoretically efficient measures against urban sprawl.

Research structure (4/4)

WP7 will provide local authorities with practical recommendations and guidelines, with regard to accompanying measures to be implemented, in order to prevent, mitigate or control urban sprawl.WP7 will also provide local authorities with the "urban sprawl monitoring tool“ to monitor the evolution of sprawl in their urban areas and the effects of sprawl with regard to transport and environment.

Statistical analysisTwo different zoning systems:

1. subdivision of the case study area into three macro-zones: urban centre, outer urban ring, hinterland

2. spatial breakdown of the case study area into L spatially disaggregated zones

Statistical analysisTime-series data for:

• Population

• Employment

• Commuters

• Commuting trips’ length

• Aggregate land use data

• Income

• House or land prices

Statistical analysis

Change in % pop. 1981-1991

Change in pop. density 1971-1981

Change in pop. density 1981-1991

Change in % pop. 1971-1981Distribution of the temporal mean growth rate (population)

Distribution of the temporal mean growth rate (employment)

Indicators:• Densities and growth rates• Deviation from average densities and growth

Visit the SCATTER website for updateshttp://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/scatter