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land cover
the vegetaion and manufactured structures that cover land
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land use
human activities that occur on land and are directly related to land
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urban area
mostly developed land covered mainly with buildings and roads that had a human population of 2500 or more
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rural area
another type of land use or land cover; includes forests, cropland, etc.; the "country"
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urbanization
the shift of population form the countryside to urban areas
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infrastructure
the facilities, services, and installations necessary for the functioning of a community
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heat island
an area in which the temperature is several degrees higher than that of the surrounding area
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noise pollution
undesired background noise
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light pollution
the way city lights brighten the night sky, obscuring stars and planets
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sprawl
the spread of low-density urban of suburban development outward form and urban center
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uncentered commercial (strip) development
businesses are arranged in a long strip along a roadway with no central communtity
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low-density single use residencial development
homes are located on large lots in residential areas far from businesses
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scattered (leapfrog) development
residential developments are built far from a city center and are not integrated with one another
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sparse street network
roads are far enough apart that areas remain undeveloped, but not far enough apart for these areas to function as natural areas or recreational areas
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city planning
the attempt to design cities so as to maximize their functionality and beauty
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geographi information system (GIS)
a computerized system for storing, manipulating, and viewing geographic data
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zoning
the practice of classifying areas for different types of development and land use
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urban growth boundary (UGB)
a line that city planners draw on a map to separate urban areas from areas of the city that would prefer to remain rural
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smart growth
a philosophy of urban growth that focuses on economic and environmental approaches that lead to sustainable growth and the avoidance of sprawl; building up not out
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ecological restoration
the practice of restoring native communities
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greenway
strips of vegetation or open space that connect parks of neighborhoods; located along rivers, streams, or canals
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new urbanism
the practice that seeks to design neighborhoods that minimize that need to drive by building good public transit systems
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green building design
sustainable architecture that seeks to save energy and other resources without sacrificing people's comfort
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