SOCIO-ECONOMIC CASE FOR URBAN DENSITY

The case for urban density may appear at first to be a simple matter of individual preference with no external economic bearing; the rural v. urban lifestyles, but in fact a quantitative analysis of potential economic opportunity and the opportunity for social interconnectivity is easy to produce. A calculable negative impact is readily observed in the economic potential of individual persons when subjugated to legislated low density socio-cultural and geographic arrangements. We will start with an exercise in simple documentation of the conditions under our scrutiny. A number of cities from around the world are under investigation here; Seoul (Korea), Osaka/Kyoto (Japan), Los Angeles (CA,US), Chicago (IL,US), Atlanta (GA,US), Florence/Muscle Shoals (AL,US). These cities represent an incomplete array from my personal urban experience.

Elements of a very basic, overly simplified, analysis_

P.D.     _ Population Density (people per square mile)
T.T.D.  _ Typical Trip Distance (distance traveled by a person, P, enroute from typical point A to point B)
               for initial analysis will use 4 miles (will not distinguish pedestrian from automobile)
W.        _ Width of a typical path traveled upon and opportunistically accessible to the individual
               for initial analysis will use 300ft. (150ft on either side of a traveling pedestrian)
A.T.     _ Average Time used on T.T.D. (will be used initially only to base a 4 mile trip on 1 hour)

One result of documenting these variables is an enhanced knowledge of the opportunity for economic interaction between individuals, the potential for invention springing from personal interaction, the opportunity for education springing from personal interaction, variety and discovery. The analysis is flawed when one considers that individuals will often concentrate around points of activity such as popular restaurants, city parks, traffic signals, transit areas, and specific socio-cultural events. This condition of even population distribution and their being stationary is imagined for the purpose of determining raw potential, and there are many who study these types of data. The science is actually quite advanced, where computer models take into account variables such as traffic patterns, rush hour, special events, and proposed alterations to zoning, water, energy, and transportation infrastructure.
  
(I absolutely will include an expanding number of variables for greater accuracy and quality of the analysis, but for today we want to get some figures on paper to share)

Beginning with Florence/Muscle Shoals (AL,US)_

Muscle Shoals is near the center + yellow line is 4 miles long + (IMAGES IN THIS POST ARE TO SAME SCALE)

 
PD       _ 1,200
TTD    _ 4 miles
W        _ 300 ft
AT       _ 1 hr

[ ( W / 5280ft ) ( PD ) ( TTD ) ] / 1=[ (300/5280) (1200) (4) ] / 1= 272.7

272.7 represents potential occasions for human interaction during a 4 mile, 1 hour trip through Florence/Muscle Shoals were the population is evenly distributed and stationary within the city limits.

Chicago (IL,US)

(IMAGES IN THIS POST ARE TO SAME SCALE)

PD       _ 11,864
TTD    _ 4 miles
W        _ 300 ft
AT       _ 1 hr

 [ ( W / 5280ft ) ( PD ) ( TTD ) ] / 1=[ (300/5280) (11864) (4) ] / 1= 2696.4

2696.4 represents potential occasions for human interaction during a 4 mile, 1 hour trip through Chicago were the population is evenly distributed and stationary within the city limits.

Los Angeles (CA,US)

yellow line is 4 miles long + (IMAGES IN THIS POST ARE TO SAME SCALE)

PD       _ 7,544.6
TTD    _ 4 miles
W        _ 300 ft
AT       _ 1 hr

 [ ( W / 5280ft ) ( PD ) ( TTD ) ] / 1=[ (300/5280) (7,544.6) (4) ] / 1=1714.7

1714.7 represents potential occasions for human interaction during a 4 mile, 1 hour trip through
Los Angeles were the population is evenly distributed and stationary within the city limits.

Atlanta (GA,US)

yellow line is 4 miles long + (IMAGES IN THIS POST ARE TO SAME SCALE)

PD       _ 4,019.7
TTD    _ 4 miles
W        _ 300 ft
AT       _ 1 hr

 [ ( W / 5280ft ) ( PD ) ( TTD ) ] / 1=[ (300/5280) (4,019.7) (4) ] / 1=913.6

913.6 represents potential occasions for human interaction during a 4 mile, 1 hour trip through
Atlanta were the population is evenly distributed and stationary within the city limits.

Osaka/Kyoto (Japan)

yellow line is 4 miles long + (IMAGES IN THIS POST ARE TO SAME SCALE)

PD       _ 31,079.9
TTD    _ 4 miles
W        _ 300 ft
AT       _ 1 hr

 [ ( W / 5280ft ) ( PD ) ( TTD ) ] / 1=[ (300/5280) (31,079.9) (4) ] / 1=7063.6

7063.6 represents potential occasions for human interaction during a 4 mile, 1 hour trip through
Osaka/Kyoto were the population is evenly distributed and stationary within the city limits.

Seoul (Korea)

PD       _ 44,777.8
TTD    _ 4 miles
W        _ 300 ft
AT       _ 1 hr

 [ ( W / 5280ft ) ( PD ) ( TTD ) ] / 1=[ (300/5280) (44,777.8) (4) ] / 1=10176.8

10176.8 represents potential occasions for human interaction during a 4 mile, 1 hour trip through
Seoul were the population is evenly distributed and stationary within the city limits.