Wrestling Sprawl to the Ground:
Defining and Measuring an Elusive Concept
George Galster
Wayne State University
Royce Hanson
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Michael R. Ratcliffe
U.S. Bureau of the Census
Harold Wolman
George Washington University
Stephen Coleman and Jason Freihage
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Abstract
The literature on urban sprawl confuses causes, consequences, and conditions. This article presents a conceptual definition of sprawl based on eight distinct dimensions of land use patterns density, continuity, concentration, clustering, centrality, nuclearity,
mixed uses, and proximity. Sprawl is defined as a condition of land use that is represented by low values on one or more of these dimensions.
Each dimension is operationally defined and tested in 13 urbanized areas. Results for six dimensions are reported for each area, and an initial comparison of the extent of sprawl in the 13 areas is provided. The test confirms the utility of the approach and suggests that a clearer conceptual and operational definition can facilitate research on the causes and consequences of sprawl.
Keywords: Land use/zoning; Urban environment
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