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A Pathfinder for the UNC Libraries Return to Top II. IntroductionEcological cities are cities that are ecologically sound: in their structure and operation they work with natural processes, do minimal harm to the environment, and use resources efficiently. While very few cities today can be called ecological cities, there is increasing interest in making cities more ecologically sound. Some examples of what planning for ecological cities might involve include: re-designing living and commercial areas to reduce traffic flow and car use, restoring and maintaining the ecological integrity of streams and waterfront areas, planting and maintaining trees, putting a limit on urban sprawl by incorporating a greenbelt into a city's design. Ecological cities involve many different elements and processes. The form and structure of cities (urban design) plays an important role in transportation patterns and energy use, urban sprawl, and the conservation of farmland and habitat. Evaluating the features of the landscape and matching land uses to appropriate types of land is another component that can affect biodiversity and soil and water resources. Urban greening--planning so that cities include more trees, wildlife, parks, gardens--is yet another aspect of an ecological city. There is great diversity in the identification of problems and solutions in this field. Ecological cities is an interdisciplinary topic involving the intersection of city planning, sustainable development, landscape architecture, and some sub-disciplines of ecology and environmental sciences, such as forestry, stream ecology, industrial ecology, and alternative energy. While many planners and activists also consider social, cultural, economic, and equity factors to be critical aspects of ecological cities, this pathfinder is focused on only the physical and biological components (city structure and landscape). The readings listed below provide an introduction and overview of the physical and biological dimensions of ecological cities. (a) For a description of an ecological city, see: "Planning and Sustainability: The Elements of a New (Improved?) Paradigm," by Timothy Beatley. Journal of Planning Literature 9(4):383-395, 1995. Read the section on "Sustainable communities acknowledge fundamental ecological limits" (pp. 383-387). (b) For a history of the ecological city movement and related movements, see: Chapter 1: Dimensions of the Future: An Eco-city Overview (pp. 1-12) by Mark Roseland in Eco-City Dimensions, edited by Mark Roseland, 1997. (Davis Library HT241 .E33 1997) (c) For an introduction to urban ecology and urban ecosystems, see: "Urban Ecosystems" by John T. Lyle. In Context #35, Spring 1993. (This article is not available at the UNC libraries, but is available at the Context Institute's web site: http://www.context.org) (d) For a discussion of city form and urban growth, see: Metropolis Unbound: The Sprawling American City and the Search for Alternatives by Robert Geddes. The American Prospect Nov.-Dec., 35:40-46, 1997. (This article is available as full-text online at http://epn.org/prospect/35/35geddfs.html or through the InfoTrac/Expanded Academic ASAP Database in the UNC Libraries.) Return to Top III. Library of Congress Subject Headings and Browsing AreasThe Library of Congress subject headings listed below can be used to search the library catalog to locate information on the topic of ecological cities. Terms are listed in the order of decreasing relevance or specificity. Library of Congress Subject Headings Most Relevant/Most Specific urban ecology city planning--environmental aspects sustainable development--U.S. Relevant/Less Specific land use, urban--environmental aspects land use--planning--environmental aspects regional planning--environmental aspects urbanization--environmental aspects Related Topics/Terms greenways landscape architecture urban design urban forestry urban hydrology urban renewal urban transportation Broader Terms/Least Specific city planning environmental policy environmental protection human ecology landscape protection regional planning urbanization urban policy Browsing Areas These two call numbers identify the best sections of the library for browsing for books related to ecological cities. Both Davis Library and the Planning Library contain books on these topics. HT 164-169 HT 241 Return to Top IV. Frequently Mentioned TextsMany books have been published on the topic of ecological cities. Listed here is a subset of books that have been selected to represent the topic in general and provide a solid starting point for exploring this topic. The Ecology of Place: Planning for Environment, Economy, and Community, Timothy Beatley and Kristy Manning. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1997. Planning Library HT167 .B43 1997 This book provides an up to date and detailed introduction to ecological city planning. Chapters 1-4 are very useful, especially Ch. 3, Principles of Urban Form, and Ch. 4, The Ecology of Place. Also includes an extensive bibliography. Sustainable Cities: Concepts and Strategies for Eco-City Development, Bob Walter, et al., ed. Los Angeles: Eco-Home Media, 1992. Planning Library HT168 .L7 S878 1992 This book is an outgrowth of the First Los Angeles Ecological Cities Conference held in 1991. It includes over 60 papers by leaders and activists on many different aspects of ecological cities, including: design parameters, sustainability, urban landscape, transportation, and projects. Also included is a detailed reference guide listing organizations and publications by topic. The Ecological City: Preserving and Restoring Urban Biodiversity, Rutherford B. Platt, et al., ed. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1994. Planning Library HT243.U6 E26 1994 This interdisciplinary collection provides a detailed introduction to urban ecosystems and the many ways to include nature in cities. It includes discussions of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable landscapes, and case studies. The Next American Metropolis: Ecology, Community, and the American Dream, Peter Calthorpe. Princeton: Princeton Architectural Press, 1993. Planning Library HT167 .C3 1993 The concept of "Pedestrian pockets," (or Transit-oriented developments) is a very popular planning model that provides en ecologically and socially sound alternative to sprawl. Calthorpe, a leader in this field, discusses planning principles and includes detailed planning guidelines and case studies. Eco-City Berkeley: Building Cities for A Healthier Future, Richard Register. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1987. Planning Library HT168.B47 R45 1987 One of the classics of the eco-city movement. The first part covers concepts of eco-cites; see pp. 13-43, Principles of Eco-City Building. Part two describes specific ideas and plans for making Berkeley more ecologically sound. Cities and Natural Processes, Michael Hough. New York: Routledge, 1995. Planning Library HT166 .H664 1995 This is a new edition of Hough's City Form and Natural Process (1984) which is a classic reference for urban ecology. This edition begins with an introduction to urban ecology and subsequent chapters cover specific areas, including water, plants, wildlife, and climate. Chapters describe natural processes, urban processes, and discuss implications for city design. Design with Nature, Ian L. McHarg. Wiley & Sons, 1992. (Reprint of the original 1969 edition.) Planning Library Folio HC110 .E5 M33 1992 This book is the classic work on ecological planning, and many of today's ecological planners, such as Michael Hough (above), were students of McHarg. It describes how to understand and adjust for natural processes in planning, and provides maps, diagrams, and examples. McHarg introduced the idea of multiple layered maps in environmental planning. Return to Top V. DictionariesListed here are dictionaries that provide conceptual explanations of terms related to ecological cities as well as dictionaries that provide simple word definitions of environmental and planning terms. Dictionary of Environment and Sustainable Development, Alan Gilpin. New York: Wiley, 1996. Davis Reference HC79 .E5 G518 1996 The purpose, from the foreword, is to "identify the many strands of concern that are encompassed today within the term 'environment', with an eye to the many progressive steps taken in North America, Europe ..." This dictionary includes terms related to environmental and human geography disciplines. Entries are detailed and well written and include cross-references to related terms. Good entries on Environmental Planning and Urban Ecosystem. Written from a British perspective, uses British spellings, laws and organizations. The Language of Cities: A Glossary of Terms, Charles Abrams with the assistance of Robert Kolodney. New York: Viking Press, 1971. Davis Reference and Davis stacks HT108.5 .A24 The goal of the dictionary is to identify the most relevant urban terms for use by experts and laymen, and to define them simply and accurately. Definitions range from brief (1 sentence) to lengthy (more than a page) and are clear and very well written. Where appropriate, the history of the term and the country where the term is used are indicated. A wide range of words, from zoning terms to ideas and movements, are included. The Urban Politics Dictionary, John W. Smith and John S. Klemanski. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1990. Davis Reference JS48 .S65 1990 This dictionary covers urban politics and related fields, including physical planning. Definitions are very detailed and each definition also includes "see" references to other entries, significance (relevance and context), and suggested readings. Numerous types of words are included, such as legislation, legal terms, organizations, and theories. The Dictionary of Ecology and Environmental Science, Henry Art, general ed. New York: Henry Holt, 1993. Davis Reference GE10 .D53 1993 This is a good general environmental dictionary. It has very broad and extensive word coverage and includes terms from many relevant disciplines or areas, including science and biology, ecology, and organizations. Brief definitions. The New Illustrated Book of Development Definitions, Harvey S. Moskowitz and Carl G. Lindbloom. New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Urban Policy Research, 1993. Planning Reference HT167 .M683 1993 A listing of 1783 planning and zoning terms with brief definitions. Definitions are intentionally brief because they are designed to be used directly in ordinances. About a third of the terms include a commentary that expands on the definition. Due to their brevity, some definitions are hard to understand. Still, it is the most extensive and current dictionary of its type available. Return to Top VI. EncyclopediasThe first three encyclopedias listed below contain numerous entries on topics related to ecological cities. The fourth encyclopedia is a good resource for understanding environmental concepts and systems. Conservation and Environmentalism: An Encyclopedia, Robert Paehlke, ed. New York: Garland Publishing, 1995. Davis Reference GE10 .C68 1995 Entries are of moderate length, detailed, and include suggestions for further reading and cross-references to related topics in the encyclopedia. Entries are written and signed by international experts. Overall, the coverage of topics is current, balanced, and thoughtful; the volume covers ideas and concepts, people, places, events, and legislation. Some excellent entries on relevant topics are: Automobiles: Impacts and Policies, Bioregions, Economic Growth and the Environment, Land use-planning, Sustainability and Sustainable Development, Urban design, Urban Forestry, and Urban form. Environmental Planning-A Condensed Encyclopedia, Alan Gilpin. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications, 1986. Davis Reference HC79 .ES G52 1986 According to the introduction, the author considers the increased use of the term "environmental planning" to indicate a shift in emphasis in the field of planning and designed the encyclopedia for use by students, planning professionals, and the public. It covers English speaking countries: U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and Wales. Differences in the meanings of terms between countries are indicated in each entry. The encyclopedia provides very balanced, descriptive information within a broad historical and legislative context. It includes basic definitions of relevant terms, such as city and regional planning, as well as a series of lengthy and detailed entries on environmental planning. The entry on land-use planning is also very good. The Green Encyclopedia, Irene Franck and David Brownstone. New York: Prentice Hall General Reference, 1992. Davis Reference GE10 .F73 1992 This encyclopedia contains detailed and current entries and covers a broad spectrum of environmental topics. It has good to excellent entries on these topics: American Planning Association, Development, Environmental Planning, and Land Use. Its intended audience is people concerned about the environment, and for some entries it includes an "Information and Action Guide" that lists organizations, contacts, publications, and references related to a specific topic. The "Environmental Planning Information and Action Guide" is very useful. The Encyclopedia also includes an "Environmental Alphabet"-a glossary of terms and acronyms, and a selected topical bibliography. McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering, 3rd ed., Sybil P. Parker and Robert A. Corbitt, eds. New York: McGraw Hill, 1993. Davis Reference GE10 .M38 1993 Contains very detailed entries on both broad and general areas in environmental science. Entries are written by experts and often include illustrations, charts, diagrams, and references. Good for background information; it is a valuable source for understanding environmental systems and ideas. Useful entries on Environmental Planning and Design (under Applied Ecology); also entries on hydrology, stream ecology, vegetation and ecosystem mapping. Return to Top VII. Almanacs, Guides, Directories, and AtlasesThe resources below provide either an in-depth introduction to one or more aspects of ecological cities, or they serve as directories for locating information sources. The Gaia Atlas of Cities: New Directions for Sustainable Urban Living, Herbert Girardet. Doubleday-Anchor Books, 1992. Planning Library HT241 .G573 1992 This lavishly illustrated atlas provides an overview of ecological cities. It is divided into three sections. The first section is an overview of how cities function and a history of how cities evolved. The second section discusses the problems of cities and city growth. The final section describes many ideas for making cities more ecologically sound and socially healthy. The Information Please Environmental Almanac, compiled by World Resources Institute. Washington, DC: World Resource Institute, 1994. Davis Reference and Planning Reference TD169.5 .I58 This volume includes a large amount of data and information on the environment in U.S. cities and states. One chapter, "Green Metro Areas," ranks the 75 largest U.S. metropolitan areas on several environmental performance characteristics and includes a discussion of each characteristic. Areas addressed include air and water quality, energy use, and transportation systems. Additional chapters provide data on each state's performance in terms of use, management, and protection of the environment. A good basic data source. The Sierra Club Green Guide: Everybody's Desk Reference to Environmental Information, Andrew J. Feldman. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1996. Davis Reference GE30 .F45 1996 Includes a chapter on Sustainable Communities. Each chapter begins with a description and contains contact information for sources under several categories, such as Government Clearinghouses, Organizations, Reference Handbooks, Introductory Reading, and Periodicals. Entries are very detailed and informative. References are made to relevant entries in other chapters. The Real World: Understanding the Modern World through the New Geography, Bruce Marshall, ed., and Philip Boys, principal writer. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991. Davis Folio G128 .R42 1991 The section of this atlas titled "People in Place" (pp. 128-187) provides a historical and geographical overview of the development of cities. The first part of this section describes the origins of permanent settlements and how geographical features affect the location and form of settlements. The second part discusses all aspects of city growth, and the third part explores patterns of city growth and city form. The volume is generously illustrated and provides a good general introduction to the development of cities and to factors that, literally, shape cities. Cooper's Comprehensive Environmental Desk Reference, compiled and edited by Andre R. Cooper, Sr. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1996. Davis Reference and Planning Library GE123 .C64 1996 This volume includes a lengthy glossary (760 p.) of environmental terms, including terms related to planning and the environment. It also includes a list of acronyms and abbreviations, how to do an environmental site assessment, conversions, a guide to EPA data, and a "jargon finder" (a type of topical index). Good general resource. Information Sources in Urban and Regional Planning: A Directory and Guide to Reference Materials, Edward E. Duensing. New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Urban Policy Research, 1994. Planning Library and Davis Library Z5942 .D87 1994 This source contains extensive annotated lists of indexes and abstracts and planning and planning related organizations divided by topic areas. The organization entries include both federal and non-federal organizations and publications and contact information. Return to Top VIII. BibliographiesBibliographies are an excellent tool for identifying additional publications on ecological cities. Sustainable Urban Development: A Literature Review and Analysis, Stephen Wheeler. University of California-Berkeley, Monograph 51, February 1996. Planning Library HT151 .W47 1996 This document includes annotated bibliographies on sustainable development, urban sustainable development, and related topics. The section on urban sustainable development (pp. 133-151) includes many relevant publications. Journal of Planning Literature (former title, Council of Planning Librarians Bibliographies). Planning Library Periodicals Section Each quarterly issue includes a bibliography of current literature in planning, divided by subject. Each issue also contains one or more bibliographies on specific topics prepared by the Council of Planning Librarians. See description under Abstracts and Indexes, below, for more complete information. Neotraditional Developments: The New Urbanism, Alexander Christoforidis. Council of Planning Librarians Bibliography 322, 1995. Planning Library Z5942 .C682 no. 322 1995 A detailed list of resources on "new urbanism," a form of urban design intended to to reduce sprawl and improve the livability of communities by forming "urban villages" or "pedestrian pockets" within a larger city region. Includes a general bibliography, and individual lists for specific topics, such as sustainability and transportation. The Bibliography of Urban Design, prepared by Mike Biddulph, University of Liverpool. http://www.liv.ac.uk/~biddulph/Bibliography/biblioframe.html This bibliography includes over a thousand references, including books, journal articles, and working papers. It is searchable by subject or key word. A list of detailed definitions for subject terms is available. Start with the the subject "sustainable." Entries are not annotated, only include basic bibliographic information. Updated monthly. Center for Sustainable Communities Bibliography. January 1996. http://weber.u.washington.edu/~common/library/bib.html A selective listing of about 100 of the key books and articles on the subject of sustainable communities. Alphabetical by author. Includes bibliographic information only. Return to Top IX. Abstracts and IndexesTitles in this section are arranged under two headings based on the number of relevant articles that can be retrieved. Specialized abstracts and indexes, that yield a larger number of articles, are listed first. The second section lists general databases that yield relatively fewer relevant articles, but are likely to have articles that may not be listed in the more specific databases. Directions are provided for locating electronic databases available through the UNC libraries. To access these databases, begin at the library's electronic resources page: http://library.unc.edu/eresources.html A. Specific Abstracts and Indexes
Journal of Planning Literature (Former title, CPL Bibliography). Columbus: Ohio State University Press.Planning Library Periodical Area Each issue of this publication includes 1-3 literature reviews, several hundred bibliographic entries and abstracts (with some overlap between these two sections), plus 2-3 special topic bibliographies prepared by the Council of Planning Librarians. The general abstract and bibliography sections are sub-divided into three main topic areas, which are each further divided. One of the main topics is Physical/Environment, with several categories under the sub-topic Environment. The category "Sustainability" was added in 1997 and is the first place to look for relevant books and articles. PAIS International (former title: PAIS Bulletin, 1976-1990) Print version--Planning Library Reference Z7163 .P9 Available on CD-ROM in Davis Library Reference Area The database of the Public Affairs Information Services, it covers all of the social sciences, including planning, policy, and contemporary public issues. Approximately 1600 journals are scanned. The electronic version is searchable by keyword and subject headings. The print version is published annually as two volumes--a subject index and abstracts. The subject index is divided into categories and subcategories. Useful subject headings include city planning-environmental aspects, cities and towns-environmental aspects, and urbanization-environmental aspects. Keyword combinations, such as "urban and ecology," will also yield results. Environment Abstracts Annual, Congressional Information Services. Davis Reference Row 14, GF1 .G46 This annual collection of abstracts has a very broad coverage of environmental topics. One of the 21 specific topic areas covered is Environmental Design and Urban Ecology. Each annual publication includes three volumes: a collection of abstracts, a subject index (for locating abstracts), and a supplementary index (titles, authors). Over 630 journals and periodical titles are reviewed each year, and the 1997 annual includes over 16,000 individual items. The indexing for this publication is very detailed and comprehensive. Some of the relevant terms include: cities, planned urban development, ecology-urban, urban design, urban planning, and urban ecosystems. Environment Database Cambridge Scientific Abstracts. Updated monthly. Available on library web page under Electronic Indexes and Databases, OCLC FirstSearch, under General Science. Provides "comprehensive, multidisciplinary coverage of relevant fields across the environmental sciences." Covers over 1100 periodicals. Searchable by subject and keyword. Use the terms "urban sustainability" and "urban and ecology." Geographical Abstracts. Human Geography. Elsevier/Geo Abstracts, Norwich, England. Davis Reference Row 14, GF1 .G46 This resource abstracts the "global literature on earth sciences, geography, development and ecology" from 3,000 leading journals and publishes 5,000 abstracts each month. Abstracts are organized under 16 major headings, and each heading has from 1 to 7 subheadings. The most relevant subheadings include those listed under urban planning, especially Architecture and Greenspaces, and Renewal and Conservation. Each issue includes subject, author, and geographical indexes. The last issue of each volume has cumulative indexes for the year. The electronic version of this resource is GeoBase. It is available on the library web page under Electronic Indexes and Databases, OCLC FirstSearch, under General Science. It is updated monthly. Urban Abstracts Planning Library Reference (last five years) Davis Library (1986-1992) Folio HT169.G7 U71 Published monthly by the London Research Centre. The purpose of the publication is to "list newly published documents on all aspects of urban affairs, social policy and local government." Abstracts are listed under 15 main subject headings; the two most useful subject headings for this topic are Environment and Urban and Regional Planning. There are no cumulations nor is there an index; relevant abstracts must be located by scanning entries under one of the subject headings. Sage Urban Studies Abstracts Planning Library (last five years) Davis Library (1986-1992), HT51 .S24 Published four times a year, each issue includes 250 abstracts. The fourth volume each year includes a list of periodicals abstracted, and cumulative subject and author indexes. Each volume also includes an author and subject index for that volume. Abstracts are divided into 15 categories. The most relevant headings for this subject include: trends in urbanization and urban society, urban development and redevelopment, urban planning and land use, and environmental and resource conservation. B. General Abstracts and Indexes Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. Available on CD-ROM at the Art Library in Hanes Hall. This is the most comprehensive of the art and architecture databases. Some planning articles are published in architectural periodicals that may not be indexed in the above databases. Useful terms are "urban ecology" and "city planning-environmental aspects." These databases also include some articles. They are all available through the UNC libraries electronic resources page: http://library.unc.edu/eresources.html. Use terms such as urban ecology, ecological or green cities, city planning and environment. Infotrac-Expanded Academic ASAP Database. Social Science Abstracts (part of OCLC FirstSearch). General Science Abstracts (part of OCLC FirstSearch). Periodicals Abstract Research II (part of UMI Proquest, under NCLive). Return to Top X. JournalsA large number of serials--from scholarly journals in many fields to popular publications--are likely to have an occasional article on ecological cities. However, relatively few serials publish articles on this topic frequently or regularly. In addition to reviewing the journals below, the use of abstracts, indexes, and bibliographies, such as those found in the Journal of Planning Literature, is recommended to identify current articles. Landscape and Urban Planning. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science, 1986-current. (Previous title: Urban Ecology, 1975-1986, Davis GF125 .U7) Published bimonthly. Planning Library Periodical Area This international journal covers the areas of landscape ecology, landscape planning, and landscape design. It emphasizes ecological understanding and a multidisciplinary approach to land-use issues. It has a very strong environmental focus and includes many articles on city landscapes and landscape planning. Urban Design. The Quarterly Journal of the Urban Design Group. England: Urban Design Group, 1981-current. http://rudi.herts.ac.uk/ej/udq/udq.html (A print version is published, but is not available at the UNC libraries.) Many articles and book reviews in this quarterly journal are available full-text through the organization's web page. In addition, an index and search function are available for the journal. Includes articles about urban and landscape design with a strong environmental focus. Landscape Architecture. Louisville, KY: American Society of Landscape Architects, 1910-current. Monthly. Planning Library Circulation Desk, current editions (1997-1998) Davis Library SB469 .L3 (1910-1996) This journal has frequent articles on urban environmental problems and environmental landscape design. Cities: The International Journal of Policy and Planning. Oxford: Elsevier Science, 1983-current. Bimonthly. Planning Library Periodicals Area, last 10 years Davis Library HT119 .C563 (1983-1987) An interdisciplinary, international, refereed journal for urban planners and policy makers. Includes some articles and book reviews on sustainable urban development. Return to Top XI. Journal Articles and Special IssuesTwo types of journal articles are included here. The first section lists specific editions of journals that include numerous articles on ecological city topics. The second section lists articles that provide some examples of the different kinds of approaches to planning ecological cities. A. Special Issues
Special Issue: Managing Urban Sustainability.Environmental Impact Assessment Review 16(4-6), July-November 1996. Planning Library Periodicals Area. Includes over a dozen articles on cities and sustainability, and managing urban sustainability. Some topics include urban ecological footprints, automobile dependence, environmental assessment, and indicators of sustainability. Special Issue: Sustainable Urban Development. Cities 14(4), August 1997. Planning Library Periodicals Area. Includes articles developing models for sustainable cities, eco-cities, urban compaction, sustainability in historic cities, and many book reviews on the topic. Special Issue: Designing A Sustainable Future. In Context #35, Spring 1993, Context Institute. http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC35/TOC35.htm (The print version of this publication is not available in the UNC-CH libraries.) This issue is divided into sections with articles addressing sustainable design at different levels: building, community, and urban scale. Articles are short essays primarily intended to provide ideas and inspiration for sustainable living. Authors include planning practitioners, activists, and leaders in the field of sustainability. Context Institute is focused on providing inspiration and practical ideas for implementing a "humane and sustainable society." In Context was published as a print magazine from 1983-1995, and converted to a web version in 1996. Articles from back issues of the magazine are available on their web site. B. Individual Journal Articles
Towards Sustainable Urbanization on Mainstreet Cascadia. Gary Pivo.Cities 13(5):339-354, 1996. This article discusses urban growth patterns and sustainable urbanization in Cascadia (the region between Vancouver, B.C. and Eugene, OR). It describes urban environmental problems, causes, and key principles for making cities more sustainable. Reconfiguring the Edge City: the Use of Ecological Design Parameters in Defining the Form of Community. Douglas Paterson and Kevin Connery. Landscape and Urban Planning 36:327-346, 1997. A detailed case study using ecological principles to design an edge city in the Vancouver region. Compares and contrasts the design and environmental impacts of the proposed plan with conditions in another edge city that developed in a traditional way. Adopting a Modern Ecological View of the Metropolitan Landscape: The Case of a Greenspace System for the New York City Region. Alejandro Flores, et al. Landscape and Urban Planning 39:295-308, 1998. Detailed description of a regional approach to planning in the New York City area. Develops and explicates a modern framework for use in environmental planning. Return to Top XII. Cities, Organizations, and Resource CentersA number of cities have made efforts to become more sustainable or ecological. In addition, there are many organizations that focus on ecological cities. Some organizations also provide extensive information or resources. This section lists some examples of these cities and organizations. A. Cities
Portland, OregonPortland's Green Peace: At Play in the Fields of Urban Planning. Jay Walljasper. The Nation, 265(11): 11, Oct. 13, 1997. (Available as a full-text article through InfoTrac: Expanded Academic ASAP Database.) Portland is known for its far-reaching policies for handling urban growth and sprawl. A key method used is an Urban Growth Boundary (a type of greenbelt around the city). This article discusses how these policies came into being and their current status. Seattle, Washington City of Seattle, Office of Management and Planning, Comprehensive Plan Issues. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/planning/compissu.htm Seattle has recently developed a comprehensive plan that includes the development of small urban neighborhoods to help control growth, reduce or prevent sprawl, and protect the environment. The site above includes links to many elements of Seattle's comprehensive plan. Some good places to start are the Mayor's Letter and Introduction, and specific issues, such as Land Use or Transportation. Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga Turnaround. Robert Frenay. Audubon, 98(1):82, January 1996. (Available as a full-text article through NCLive: UMI Proquest Direct: Periodicals Abstracts Research II Database.) Chattanooga was named America's most polluted city 25 years ago. Since then, by using the principles of urban ecology in its planning process, it has dramatically changed and become a leader in the sustainable cities movement. This article describes some of the processes and programs that Chattanooga used to make these changes. B. Organizations
Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN), U.S. Department of Energy.http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/ The purpose of the Center is to help communities design and implement strategies that move them towards sustainability. The Center's web site includes detailed information on sustainable development definitions and principles, as well as a lot of good information on specific topics, such as land-use planning and transportation. Urban Ecology. 405 14th Street, Suite 900; Oakland, CA 94612, U.S.A. Telephone: (510) 251-6330; Fax: (510) 251-2117 Email: urbanecology@urbanecology.org http://www.urbanecology.org Urban Ecology, based in northern California, was founded by Richard Register, one of the early activists in the eco-city movement. It is one of the oldest urban ecology organizations. Their motto is to "Rebuild Our Cities in Balance with Nature." They are a membership organization, and publish a journal, Urban Ecology, a newsletter, and occasional books. They also have a bookstore and offer a consulting service for developing ecologically and socially healthy cities. C. Web Resource Centers
Resource for Urban Design Information (RUDI). Updated monthly.http://rudi.herts.ac.uk RUDI is an internet resource for urban design and related subjects. It includes links to about 1700 web pages and 5,000 visual images and sound and animation sequences. Resources are available in numerous categories, including bibliographies, journals, case studies. RUDI is a joint project of the Oxford Brookes University Library (material acquisition and editorial control) and the University of Hertfordshire Science and Technology Research Centre (server maintenance and project management). This is a well designed site with a plethora of quality information. Cyburbia.org: Internet Resources for the Built Environment (former name: PAIRC-The Planning and Architecture Internet Resource Center). http://www.cyburbia.org or http://www.arch.buffalo.edu/pairc/ As described on its home page, this site "contains a comprehensive directory of Internet resources relevant to planning, architecture, urbanism and other topics related to the built environment." It also includes an on-line magazine, bulletin boards, and mailing lists. The site is searchable by key words. One section of the site is a Planning Resource Directory that is divided by subject. Relevant categories include Environment, Land Use, Urban Design and New Urbanism, Organizations, and Publications. Cyburbia is maintained by Dan Tasman, a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. EcoIQ Online Resource Guide. http://www.ecoiq.com/onlineresources/index.html The EcoIQ resource guide includes links to over 5,000 web sites and pages. It is divided into several categories including The Link Center (links to home pages, arranged by subject) and Anthologies (a collection of links to over 500 full-text articles, arranged by subject). The sustainability subject in the Anthologies part of the guide is a good starting point for interesting articles from a variety of sources. EcoIQ was founded by Dennis Church, a planner who initiated the Global Cities Project as part of Earth Day 1990. Return to Top This page was prepared by E. Smith and was last updated on November 30, 1998.
Comments and suggestions are welcome, please send them to E. Smith at: smite@ils.unc.edu |