An investigation that aims to support political decision-makers in defining strategies that promote more balanced and healthier cities for populations.
A study by the University of Aveiro (UA) demonstrates that compact cities are more sustainable than the dispersed growth model, offering better air quality and lower traffic emissions.
A used an “eco-indicator”, created to measure urban sustainability, which integrates several factors, such as displacement generation, road traffic emissions, modeling of climate conditions and air quality.
The work aims to support policymakers in urban planning and creating more balanced and healthy cities.
“Independent City” versus “Scattered City”
As cities and urban centers grow, they can expand in a dispersed manner, occupying large areas, or develop in a more concentrated manner.
“Each model has advantages and disadvantages, with research showing that urban morphology plays a determining role in the vulnerability of cities to climate change,” says one
Applied to the Aveiro region, the work concludes that scenarios of Greater urban concentration reduces emissions from road traffic.
“The scenario called ‘Independent City’ was identified as the most favorable model for future development, as it promotes shorter distances and less dependence on the car.”
In the opposite sense, “the ‘Scattered City’ model presented the worst global performance, in terms of air quality and resilience to“.
The objective of the work is “support political decision-makers in defining strategies that promote more balanced and healthier cities for populations”.
