Urban Ecology Blog Post #1
Introduction It's no secret that urbanization isn't always best for the environment. Because of things like dense populations, insulated buildings, carbon dioxide emissions, impervious surfaces and more, urban areas tend to become much hotter, more polluted, and overall just not always the most ideal environment. So what are some ways we can improve the living conditions in urban areas? We can improve them by implementing "smart surfaces" into our urban planning and design. In my post today, we'll talk about what smart surfaces are, different types of smart surfaces, and how they can help improve urban areas. Smart Surfaces Smart surfaces include things like reflective materials, porous and permeable pavements, and green roofs ( Smart Surfaces Coalition , 2024). Smart surfaces can reduce temperature, reduce stormwater runoff, and improve air quality (Aidan, 2021), overall making the living conditions in urban areas better. Reflective Materials R...