Understanding and Quantifying Urban Density Toward more Sustainable City Form

Abstract

Urban density is a term used in urban planning and design to refer to the number of people inhabiting in a given urbanized area. Density and compactness are two closely related, but different, criteria relevant for the transformation of cities to become more resilient to climate change. While a high degree of compactness is desirable, too much density can be detrimental to liveability, health, and social well-being. More compact cities are an advantage and will help in curbing urban sprawl, but a consolidated urban form requires urban infill at densities that support compact self-reliant districts and mixed-use neighborhoods. The social dimension of such density increase is likely to be a future challenge and face community resistance. This essay argues that a quantitative approach to describe urban density helps to better understand cities; however, urban form is always more than just a mathematical formula, including nonquantifiable qualities of cities.