Systemic effects of urban form on air pollution and environmental quality
Abstract
The form and design of cities and towns have a direct impact on the quality of the natural environment, particularly air and water quality. This paper illustrates some of the dynamic relationships between the form of urban environments and air and water pollution. Recent research suggests how urban form affects environmental quality in at least three ways: (a) how suburban development and its dependency on the private motor vehicle increases air pollution, (b) how exterior building materials help to generate urban heat islands and ozone precursors, and (c) how conventional stormwater drainage systems transport polluted urban runoff into waterways. Today`s aging urban infrastructure provides an important and timely opportunity to re-examine the design of cities and towns with a goal of enhancing overall environmental quality. Many miles of roads, freeways, bridges, and stormwater culverts and pipes are in poor condition and need to be repaired or replaced, while many cities are now failing to meet air and water quality standards designed to protect human and environmental health. This paper also explores seven urban planning and design concepts that could reduce the magnitude of air and water pollution in urban environments and help to improve the health of both cities andmore »
- Authors:
-
- Okamoto Saijo Architecture, San Francisco, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 353534
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970677-
TRN: IM9929%%80
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 90. annual meeting and exhibition of the Air and Waste Management Association, Toronto (Canada), 8-13 Jun 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of 1997 proceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association`s 90. annual meeting and exhibition; PB: [7000] p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; AIR POLLUTION; URBAN AREAS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; OZONE; POLLUTION SOURCES; RUNOFF; WATER POLLUTION
Citation Formats
Okamoto, P C. Systemic effects of urban form on air pollution and environmental quality. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Okamoto, P C. Systemic effects of urban form on air pollution and environmental quality. United States.
Okamoto, P C. 1997.
"Systemic effects of urban form on air pollution and environmental quality". United States.
@article{osti_353534,
title = {Systemic effects of urban form on air pollution and environmental quality},
author = {Okamoto, P C},
abstractNote = {The form and design of cities and towns have a direct impact on the quality of the natural environment, particularly air and water quality. This paper illustrates some of the dynamic relationships between the form of urban environments and air and water pollution. Recent research suggests how urban form affects environmental quality in at least three ways: (a) how suburban development and its dependency on the private motor vehicle increases air pollution, (b) how exterior building materials help to generate urban heat islands and ozone precursors, and (c) how conventional stormwater drainage systems transport polluted urban runoff into waterways. Today`s aging urban infrastructure provides an important and timely opportunity to re-examine the design of cities and towns with a goal of enhancing overall environmental quality. Many miles of roads, freeways, bridges, and stormwater culverts and pipes are in poor condition and need to be repaired or replaced, while many cities are now failing to meet air and water quality standards designed to protect human and environmental health. This paper also explores seven urban planning and design concepts that could reduce the magnitude of air and water pollution in urban environments and help to improve the health of both cities and their residents.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/353534},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Wed Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}