78 posts · 51,685 views
Per Square Mile is a blog about density. It’s about what happens when people live like packed sardines. It’s also about what happens when people live so far apart they can go days without seeing another soul. It’s about living amongst trees and prairies, and living in places miles away from them. It’s about the trees and the prairies, too. And lakes and streams and animals and insects. In short, this is a blog about density of all types.
Tim De Chant
78 posts
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- October 3, 2012
- 12:02 PM
- 97 views
■ Planet of the cities
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Science fiction is littered with planet-wide cities. Star Wars had Coruscant, Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Series had Trantor, and even Star Trek, in an alternate timeline in First Contact, saw Earth paved over by the cybernetic Borg. City-planets are both a wonder and a terror—we stand in awe of our power to change the world, but [...]... Read more »
Seto K. C., Guneralp B., & Hutyra L. R. (2012) Global forecasts of urban expansion to 2030 and direct impacts on biodiversity and carbon pools. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(40), 16088. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1211658109
- August 22, 2012
- 02:50 PM
- 158 views
■ How far should you live from work?
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Thirty minutes at most, according to the wisdom of the crowds. That comes from reams of data and piles of research that suggests commute times tend to cluster around this point. People tend to be good at weighing their options, economists think. If you live farther from work, you can usually afford a bigger house [...]... Read more »
Cervero Robert. (1996) Jobs-Housing Balance Revisited: Trends and Impacts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Journal of the American Planning Association, 62(4), 511. DOI: 10.1080/01944369608975714
Cervero Robert, & Duncan Michael. (2006) 'Which Reduces Vehicle Travel More: Jobs-Housing Balance or Retail-Housing Mixing?. Journal of the American Planning Association, 72(4), 490. DOI: 10.1080/01944360608976767
Clark William A. V., & Davies Withers Suzanne. (1999) Changing Jobs and Changing Houses: Mobility Outcomes of Employment Transitions. Journal of Regional Science, 39(4), 673. DOI: 10.1111/0022-4146.00154
Clark William A.V., Huang Youqin, & Withers Suzanne. (2003) Does commuting distance matter?. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 33(2), 221. DOI: 10.1016/S0166-0462(02)00012-1
Giuliano Genevieve, & Small Kenneth. (1993) Is the Journey to Work Explained by Urban Structure?. Urban Studies, 30(9), 1500. DOI: 10.1080/00420989320081461
Levinson David M. (1997) Job and housing tenure and the journey to work. The Annals of Regional Science, 31(4), 471. DOI: 10.1007/s001680050058
Schwanen Tim, Dieleman Frans M., & Dijst Martin. (2004) The Impact of Metropolitan Structure on Commute Behavior in the Netherlands: A Multilevel Approach. Growth and Change, 35(3), 333. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2257.2004.00251.x
Schwanen Tim, & Dijst Martin. (2002) Travel-time ratios for visits to the workplace: the relationship between commuting time and work duration. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 36(7), 592. DOI: 10.1016/S0965-8564(01)00023-4
Vandersmissen Marie-Hélène, Villeneuve Paul, & Thériault Marius. (2003) Analyzing Changes in Urban Form and Commuting Time∗. The Professional Geographer, 55(4), 463. DOI: 10.1111/0033-0124.5504004
Wachs Martin, Taylor Brian, Levine Ned, & Ong Paul. (1993) The Changing Commute: A Case-study of the Jobs–Housing Relationship over Time. Urban Studies, 30(10), 1729. DOI: 10.1080/00420989320081681
- July 17, 2012
- 11:52 AM
- 210 views
■ Concrete jungles replacing urban forests
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
David Nowak is at it again. The tireless ecologist and his frequent collaborator Eric Greenfield have given us another comprehensive snapshot of urban forests in the United States. Nowak has published numerous studies on urban trees, one of which I’ve covered previously. But that study—which discovered that some cities are leafier than their pre-urban states—takes [...]... Read more »
Nowak David J., & Greenfield Eric J. (2012) Tree and impervious cover change in U.S. cities. Urban Forestry , 11(1), 30. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2011.11.005
- June 27, 2012
- 11:30 AM
- 219 views
■ Nature’s burning library
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Let’s imagine it’s 48 B.C.E., and the Library of Alexandria is burning.¹ Bits of ash are floating down from the superheated updrafts, remnants of what was the world’s greatest collection of written knowledge to date. You’re standing just outside the door, and you have five minutes to dash in and grab whatever you can carry. [...]... Read more »
Michael A. McCarthy, Colin J. Thompson, Alana L. Moore, & Hugh P. Possingham. (2011) Designing nature reserves in the face of uncertainty. Ecology Letters, 14(5), 470-5. PMID: 21371231
- June 22, 2012
- 11:15 AM
- 146 views
Bingo
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Christina Koomen, with the best comment I’ve received on “Urban trees reveal income inequality”. If nothing else, this study of the distribution of trees in affluent vs. non-affluent areas underscores the need to better plan for and support green space in all urban sectors. Yes, there are exceptions to this correlation, and yes, there can [...]∞
... Read more »
Zhu, P., & Zhang, Y. (2008) Demand for urban forests in United States cities. Landscape and Urban Planning, 84(3-4), 293-300. DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.09.005
- May 17, 2012
- 11:58 AM
- 252 views
■ Urban trees reveal income inequality
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Wealthy cities seem to have it all. Expansive, well-manicured parks. Fine dining. Renowned orchestras and theaters. More trees. Wait, trees? I’m afraid so. Research published a few years ago shows a tight relationship between per capita income and forest cover. The study’s authors tallied total forest cover for 210 cities over 100,000 people in the [...]... Read more »
Zhu, P., & Zhang, Y. (2008) Demand for urban forests in United States cities. Landscape and Urban Planning, 84(3-4), 293-300. DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.09.005
- May 10, 2012
- 01:46 PM
- 443 views
■ Farming, circa 2050
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Farms today look nothing like the farms of 40 years ago. Thanks to market and policy changes along with advances in technology, they’re larger, more mechanized, and more intensive. And while those factors will likely continue to affect farmers, there’s another looming on the horizon—climate change. Agriculture has already seen the effects of a warming [...]... Read more »
Mandryk, M., Reidsma, P., & Ittersum, M. (2012) Scenarios of long-term farm structural change for application in climate change impact assessment. Landscape Ecology, 27(4), 509-527. DOI: 10.1007/s10980-012-9714-7
- April 19, 2012
- 10:54 AM
- 302 views
■ The last settler’s syndrome
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
In my mind, my hometown will always be a city of 24,000 people. It’ll also be supported by three major manufacturing companies. And it’ll always have a certain, intangible something. Of course, today West Bend has 5,000 more residents despite the demise of all three manufacturers. And every time I return, that certain something isn’t [...]... Read more »
Nielsen, J. M., Shelby, B., & Haas, J. E. (1977) Sociological carrying capacity and the last settler syndrome. Pacific Sociological Review, 20(4), 568-581. info:/
- March 7, 2012
- 11:36 AM
- 327 views
■ Seeing historical processes in road networks’ patterns
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Once a road, always a road. That’s the gist of a recent paper that studied 14 different municipalities in the Groane region of Italy near Milan. In cataloging 174 years of road construction, the study’s authors discovered that nearly 90 percent of the regions 100 most vital routes today were already present in 1833. The [...]... Read more »
Strano, E., Nicosia, V., Latora, V., Porta, S., & Barthélemy, M. (2012) Elementary processes governing the evolution of road networks. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/srep00296
- February 23, 2012
- 12:47 PM
- 260 views
■ Flyways and greenways
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Earlier this week I pointed out that urban areas can actually increase tree cover over time, albeit with a caveat. The two studies I cited measured tree cover and only tree cover—they made no claims about ecological function. Luckily, other studies have done just that, including one that looked at migratory bird use of greenways [...]... Read more »
Kohut, S., Hess, G., & Moorman, C. (2009) Avian use of suburban greenways as stopover habitat. Urban Ecosystems, 12(4), 487-502. DOI: 10.1007/s11252-009-0099-6
- February 20, 2012
- 02:00 PM
- 272 views
■ Tree City
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Cities aren’t called “concrete jungles” for their leafy greenness. But perhaps it’s an inappropriate nickname. Several cities actually have more—not less—tree cover than what came before them. By way of example, take this from historian William Cronon: “There are more trees in southern Wisconsin now than at any point in the last 7,000 years.” That’s [...]... Read more »
Berland, A. (2012) Long-term urbanization effects on tree canopy cover along an urban–rural gradient. Urban Ecosystems. DOI: 10.1007/s11252-012-0224-9
Nowak, David J. (1993) Historical vegetation change in Oakland and its implications for urban forest management. Journal of Arboriculture, 19(5), 313-319. info:/
- February 15, 2012
- 11:45 AM
- 301 views
America’s suburban future
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
If you think American cities are sprawling now, just wait until 2025. In that time, the U.S. population will grow by 18 percent but the amount of developed land will increase 57 percent. Up to 9.2 percent of the lower 48 could be urbanized by then. And while that number includes cities and the infrastructure [...]... Read more »
Alig, R., Kline, J., & Lichtenstein, M. (2004) Urbanization on the US landscape: looking ahead in the 21st century. Landscape and Urban Planning, 69(2-3), 219-234. DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2003.07.004
White, E., Morzillo, A., & Alig, R. (2009) Past and projected rural land conversion in the US at state, regional, and national levels. Landscape and Urban Planning, 89(1-2), 37-48. DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2008.09.004
- February 15, 2012
- 11:45 AM
- 256 views
■ America’s suburban future
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
If you think American cities are sprawling now, just wait until 2025. In that time, the U.S. population will grow by 18 percent but the amount of developed land will increase 57 percent. Up to 9.2 percent of the lower 48 could be urbanized by then. And while that number includes cities and the infrastructure [...]... Read more »
Alig, R., Kline, J., & Lichtenstein, M. (2004) Urbanization on the US landscape: looking ahead in the 21st century. Landscape and Urban Planning, 69(2-3), 219-234. DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2003.07.004
White, E., Morzillo, A., & Alig, R. (2009) Past and projected rural land conversion in the US at state, regional, and national levels. Landscape and Urban Planning, 89(1-2), 37-48. DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2008.09.004
- February 14, 2012
- 09:26 AM
- 271 views
Alternative maps of America
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Esquire explores the United States of 2012 from a cartographic perspective. Don’t miss Eric Fischer’s contribution, which delightfully explores cultural meaning in the United States—places where we tweet, tag, and photograph. ∞∞
... Read more »
Thiemann, C., Theis, F., Grady, D., Brune, R., & Brockmann, D. (2010) The Structure of Borders in a Small World. PLoS ONE, 5(11). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015422
- February 2, 2012
- 10:10 AM
- 357 views
For metros, two cities can be better than one
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Cities were, for thousands of years, distinct and easily identifiable entities. You were either in the city or in the country. Medieval cities took this to the extreme, building walls to make explicit the distinction. Johann Heinrich von Thünen systematized the idea in 1826 when he sketched a hypothetical map that, when simplified, looked like [...]... Read more »
Meijers, E. (2008) Summing Small Cities Does Not Make a Large City: Polycentric Urban Regions and the Provision of Cultural, Leisure and Sports Amenities. Urban Studies, 45(11), 2323-2342. DOI: 10.1177/0042098008095870
Meijers, E., & Burger, M. (2010) Spatial structure and productivity in US metropolitan areas. Environment and Planning A, 42(6), 1383-1402. DOI: 10.1068/a42151
- February 2, 2012
- 10:10 AM
- 261 views
■ For metros, two cities can be better than one
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Cities were, for thousands of years, distinct and easily identifiable entities. You were either in the city or in the country. Medieval cities took this to the extreme, building walls to make explicit the distinction. Johann Heinrich von Thünen systematized the idea in 1826 when he sketched a hypothetical map that, when simplified, looked like [...]... Read more »
Meijers, E. (2008) Summing Small Cities Does Not Make a Large City: Polycentric Urban Regions and the Provision of Cultural, Leisure and Sports Amenities. Urban Studies, 45(11), 2323-2342. DOI: 10.1177/0042098008095870
Meijers, E., & Burger, M. (2010) Spatial structure and productivity in US metropolitan areas. Environment and Planning A, 42(6), 1383-1402. DOI: 10.1068/a42151
- January 26, 2012
- 03:29 PM
- 392 views
Why New York City keeps getting bigger
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Q: Why is New York City the most populous city in the United States? A. Because it was America’s most populous city in 1900. Q. Why was New York City America’s most populous city in 1900? A. Because it was America’s most populous city in 1800. History seems to be protecting New York City’s status [...]... Read more »
Ayuda, M., Collantes, F., & Pinilla, V. (2009) From locational fundamentals to increasing returns: the spatial concentration of population in Spain, 1787–2000. Journal of Geographical Systems, 12(1), 25-50. DOI: 10.1007/s10109-009-0092-x
Beeson, P. (2001) Population growth in U.S. counties, 1840–1990. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 31(6), 669-699. DOI: 10.1016/S0166-0462(01)00065-5
Krugman, P. (1991) Increasing Returns and Economic Geography. Journal of Political Economy, 99(3), 483. DOI: 10.1086/261763
- January 26, 2012
- 03:29 PM
- 269 views
℗ Why New York City keeps getting bigger
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Q: Why is New York City the most populous city in the United States? A. Because it was America’s most populous city in 1900. Q. Why was New York City America’s most populous city in 1900? A. Because it was America’s most populous city in 1800. History seems to be protecting New York City’s status [...]... Read more »
Ayuda, M., Collantes, F., & Pinilla, V. (2009) From locational fundamentals to increasing returns: the spatial concentration of population in Spain, 1787–2000. Journal of Geographical Systems, 12(1), 25-50. DOI: 10.1007/s10109-009-0092-x
Beeson, P. (2001) Population growth in U.S. counties, 1840–1990. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 31(6), 669-699. DOI: 10.1016/S0166-0462(01)00065-5
Krugman, P. (1991) Increasing Returns and Economic Geography. Journal of Political Economy, 99(3), 483. DOI: 10.1086/261763
- January 26, 2012
- 03:29 PM
- 231 views
■ Why New York City keeps getting bigger
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Q: Why is New York City the most populous city in the United States? A. Because it was America’s most populous city in 1900. Q. Why was New York City America’s most populous city in 1900? A. Because it was America’s most populous city in 1800. History seems to be protecting New York City’s status [...]... Read more »
Ayuda, M., Collantes, F., & Pinilla, V. (2009) From locational fundamentals to increasing returns: the spatial concentration of population in Spain, 1787–2000. Journal of Geographical Systems, 12(1), 25-50. DOI: 10.1007/s10109-009-0092-x
Beeson, P. (2001) Population growth in U.S. counties, 1840–1990. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 31(6), 669-699. DOI: 10.1016/S0166-0462(01)00065-5
Krugman, P. (1991) Increasing Returns and Economic Geography. Journal of Political Economy, 99(3), 483. DOI: 10.1086/261763
- January 20, 2012
- 11:43 AM
- 180 views
■ Population density and the evolution of ownership
by Tim De Chant in Per Square Mile
Yours. Mine. Even a two year-old can understand the basics of ownership. Those two words are also freighted with meaning, implying volumes about resources, control, privilege, and social standing. But what they don’t say is why it is we care so much about who owns what. ... Read more »
Horiuchi, S. (2007) High population density promotes the evolution of ownership. Ecological Research, 23(3), 551-556. DOI: 10.1007/s11284-007-0408-6
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