Urbanization and Urban Environment: A Way Towards Sustainability

Urban geography is a branch of human geography that focuses on the study of cities and urban areas, including their spatial organization, demographics, economics, infrastructure, culture and environmental impacts. It explores spatial patterns, processes and dynamics of urbanization and the interaction of man with its natural environment in an urban setting. While urbanization can create opportunities for the development of urban areas, uncontrolled urbanization can pose challenges to the environment and urban sustainability. In case of developing countries like India, the public infrastructural expansion is inadequate in response to the growing urban population leading to infrastructure deficit which poses serious threat on the economic growth and quality of life of urban dwellers. Unplanned urbanization can exacerbate social inequalities, leading to poverty and social exclusion. This strain on social cohesion can result in increased crime, social tensions, and urban violence.

This book therefore aims to delve deeper into the concept of urbanization and urban environment thereby better understanding the opportunities as well as challenges posed by urbanization in the urban environment. The chapters study in details the patterns of urbanization, the changing socio-economic structure and demography of the urban areas and addresses the challenges of urbanization faced by the urban areas.