Scaling
Regular mathematical relationships between the size of a system and its properties.
Why it matters now
Cities scale superlinearly in invention and sublinearly in infrastructure: doubling a city's population needs roughly eighty-five percent more road, not a hundred. That single fact makes density one of the most powerful climate tools available, and it means urbanisation done well is part of the answer rather than only part of the problem.
Where this is happening on Earth
- North AmericaGeoffrey West and Luis Bettencourt, Santa Fe Institute, New MexicoEstablished the quantitative scaling laws linking city size to infrastructure and innovation.
- AsiaSingapore's density and per-capita emissionsHigh density paired with transit delivers low per-person transport energy in a hot climate.
- EuropeCopenhagen and Barcelona compact city policyDeliberate density and mixed use reduce per-capita energy without reducing quality of life.
- AfricaKigali's planned densification, RwandaA fast-growing city choosing compact form before sprawl becomes locked in.
- South AmericaCuritiba's bus rapid transit, BrazilTransit-oriented density that made a mid-size city an international model.
The idea itself
The encyclopedia entry first, then live searches at journals and magazines that keep returning current work on this specific idea.
Current reporting from around the world
Standing feeds at reputable periodicals. These stay fresh on their own, which is why they are here instead of a list of articles that would be out of date within a season.