How Cities Are Growing Up

Rather than out, cities are growing up.

Higher Cities

Using a treasure trove of satellite data, researchers asked how more than 1,550 cities have grown. Their answers quantified where urban centers added approximately two billion people from 1990 to 2020. Through two types of data series, they could observe outward and upward movement.

Asking why people were in cities, they responded that their amenities attracted residents. Cities let their populations easily access work, entertainment, shopping, and restaurants with mass transit, bicycles, walking.

In all urban centers with more than a million people, it was typical to move outward and then shift upward. However, depending on local regulations, land prices, and economic activity, there were differences. As a result, researchers concluded that urban centers in Asia’s rapidly developing nations expanded faster than a more affluent Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, North America, and Europe.

Through the increasing dominance of light blue, these images from space show more vertical cities:

Meanwhile, the following video takes us to 10 of the buildings now under construction. Unexpectedly captivating, the video grabbed my attention. It takes viewers to Mexico, NYC, Germany, Miami, Dubai, Israel, China, and Saudi Arabia. At 3,308 feet/1008.2 meters the Saudis’ Jeddah Tower will be the world’s tallest:

Our Bottom Line: Climate Change

Cities exacerbate air, noise, and light pollution. In addition, explaining that dense populations create heat islands, scientists cited skyscrapers as a major contributor to increasing heat. Then, taking the next step, one climate scientist hypothesized that, at night, structures release the heat they’ve absorbed during the day. The result could be a “silent hazard” that weakens foundations.

“Our Bottom Line” also returns us to our economic lens. Whether focusing on tradeoffs, supply and demand, competition, or a slew of infrastructures and externalities, an economic perspective helps us understand the shifting urban landscape.

My sources and more: Thanks to my Space.com email for alerting me to higher cities. Then, from their summary, I found more detail in this paper. Please also take a look at this past post where we conclude that cities can be more climate friendly because denser populations share energy use.