UNIT 5 — LAND AND WATER USE

IMPACTS OF
URBANIZATION

Topic 5.10  ·  AP Environmental Science

EIN-2.M.1 Hydrologic Cycle EIN-2.M.2 Carbon Cycle EIN-2.M.3 Impervious Surfaces EIN-2.M.4 Urban Sprawl
01
THE BRIEFING
Learn 4 key concepts
02
CITY PLANNER
Build & see consequences
03
ANALYSIS
Evaluate your city
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
By the end of this activity, you will be able to explain how urbanization disrupts four interconnected environmental systems — water infiltration, the carbon cycle, groundwater supply, and land use patterns — and evaluate tradeoffs in city planning decisions.
THE BRIEFING
1 of 4

Answer the question to continue
PHASE 2 — CITY PLANNER

YOUR CITY AWAITS

You've learned how urbanization affects four environmental systems. Now you're the city planner — every decision you make will move the meters in real time.

🎯 YOUR GOAL

Reach a population of 25,000 residents while keeping ALL four environmental meters below 75%. Your city must also include at least 3 industrial cells, 3 parking cells, and 5 low-density residential cells — every real city has suburbs whether planners like it or not. Can you grow sustainably?

🏗 AVAILABLE ZONES
🌲 Forest / Wetland (0 pop)
🌿 Green Infrastructure (0 pop — helps flood, small CO₂ cost)
🏠 Low-Density Residential (400/cell — high sprawl)
🏢 High-Density Residential (1,500/cell — high CO₂)
🏭 Industrial / Landfill (0 pop — required ×3)
🅿 Parking Lot (0 pop — required ×3, hurts flood badly)

💡 Not all zones are equal. Pay attention to which causes which environmental problem — and whether any zones can help reduce impact.

CITY PLANNER — 5.10 URBANIZATION
Population 0
Goal 25,000
Required 🏭0/3 🅿0/3 🏠0/5
Status —
ENVIRONMENTAL METERS
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Select a zone type from the toolbar, then click any grid cell to develop it. All cells start as forest.
ZONE LEGEND
⚡ ROUND 2 — POPULATION SURGE

YOUR CITY GOT NOTICED

Your successful urban plan attracted regional investment. The state has approved an annexation of 14 additional city blocks to the south — new land currently covered in forest.

Regional population projections show 35,000 residents need housing within the decade. Try every strategy you can think of. Use the new mid-rise zone. Move green infrastructure around. See how far you can get.

✓ WHAT CARRIED OVER
Your existing city layout · All 3+ industrial & parking zones · All 5+ low-density residential · Green infrastructure investments
⚡ WHAT CHANGED
Population target: 35,000 · 14 new forest cells added · New zone unlocked: 🏗 Mid-Rise Residential · −15% baseline offset from policy investments (see below)
🏗 NEW: MID-RISE RESIDENTIAL
4–8 story mixed-use buildings. 800 residents per cell. Lower environmental impact than high-rises, less sprawl than suburbs. The middle path — but not a magic solution. You'll still need to plan carefully.
📋 POLICY INVESTMENTS PAID OFF: −15 ON ALL METERS
Your Round 1 green infrastructure was upgraded. New regional stormwater systems, energy efficiency mandates, and groundwater recharge projects reduce your city's baseline environmental impact by 15 points on every meter — giving you room to grow, but not unlimited room.
PHASE 3 — ANALYSIS

YOUR CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

LAND USE BREAKDOWN

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Which environmental meter was hardest to control? Why do you think that is based on what you built?
2. What trade-offs did you face when trying to reach the population goal? Did you have to sacrifice one environmental metric to protect another?
3. Compare low-density vs. high-density residential zoning. Which had better environmental outcomes per 1,000 residents? Why?
4. Did placing green infrastructure actually move any meters? Which ones, and why?
5. [Skill 7.C] Identify ONE potential solution to urban flooding. Describe one advantage AND one unintended consequence or disadvantage of that solution using evidence from your city.