Page 9 - U4SSC: City Science Application Framework

1. Introduction

Urbanization is progressing at an unprecedented rate with 68% of the world population expected
to reside in urban areas by 2050 . 90% of the increase in world population is expected to take place
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in Asia and Africa, putting tremendous pressure on these regions to cope with the new human
development challenges associated with this influx of population. It is important to acknowledge
that while urban migration brings new economic opportunities and makes social services and
cultural activities more accessible to many, it is equally important to address the rising challenges
that urban governance has to address including economic inclusiveness, increased resource
consumption, environmental deterioration, surging housing needs, new physical infrastructure, etc.

This high degree of urban sprawl demands urban planning to be reinvented in order to improve
land and resource allocations. This creates further tension between urban and peri-urban areas
(locations of close proximity to cities) in terms of economic and environmental sustainability.
Mobility is becoming one of the most significant concerns for city inhabitants all over the world as
the associated economic and health costs are ever rising. The lack of affordable housing with basic
necessities such as, water, energy, sanitation, waste etc. causes informal settlements, which often
without basic planning and regulations compliance, to flourish. The pressure on food, water and
energy resources is also steadily mounting.

Urban sprawl also adversely impacts urban environment by diminishing green spaces, intensifying
air pollution and increasing waste generation. Furthermore, cities are dense and highly congested
places that are prone to the devastating consequences of climate change. More than 80 percent of
cities in 2014 were located in areas that are vulnerable to economic losses associated with natural
disasters and other environmental catastrophes . Sea-level rise, floods, storms, urban heat wave,
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earthquakes, etc. are all potential resilience challenges that urban areas have to confront.

In this context, this deliverable has proposed to use a scientific method, the city science method, to
analyse and solve these urban problems and challenges. It will demonstrate that by using empirical
evidence such as data, the city science method provides the most reliable and consistent way for
cities to tackle urban challenges.

City Science Application Framework 1