From Bangalore to the Bay Area: Comparative Urban Growth Patterns Across the Pacific Rim

Regardless of nomenclature — “edge cities,” “peri-urban growth”, “ex-urban development” or “suburbanization”— the urban growth patterns evident in the United States during the past half-century have spiked consumption levels of land, water, and fossil fuels, affecting energy and climate systems worldwide. Fueled by economic growth, many Asian developing nations are now adopting Western-style ways of living and demonstrating urban growth patterns measurably similar to the US, although radically different national political and economic frameworks underpin these changes. The land and resource-intensive nature of this type of urban development, and the rapidity with which these cultures are adapting this urban form, gives such urban developments wide environmental and social impacts. What does the global spread of “master-planned communities” and “urban sprawl” mean for the global environment? This project addresses this question through historical land-use analysis of case study examples from China, India, and the United States.

A flooded Bangalore road contrasts with gleaming skyscrapers housing Dell and other multinational firms.

This project brings together history, environmental science and policy, and modern geographical analysis to make a comparative study of low-density urban development in extended Bangalore metropolitan region, India, the Pearl River Delta, China and the greater San Jose region in the United States. The goals of the project are fourfold: 1) describe the spatial extent and distribution of urban growth; 2) understand the policy and institutional drivers behind low-density suburban growth; 3) assess the environmental implications of such growth patterns; and 4) identify the policy levers and institutional mechanisms that can support alternative growth patterns that are both environmentally sustainable and politically pragmatic.

Driving down one of Shenzhen's many newly built wide roadways. The analysis of imagery and maps in the lab only works when combined with ground-truthing out in the field.

Thus far, the Urban Group has collected social, economic and environmental data; classified remote sensing data and accuracy assessed the results; developed statistical models highlighting key drivers and environmental impacts of urban expansion; and interviewed key governmental and corporate stakeholders.