Why Cities Spread Out: Urban Sprawl Explained

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video uses Atlanta, Georgia, as a primary case study to explore the complex concept of urban sprawl. Hosted by an "urban planner in training," the video defines urban sprawl as the rapid expansion of cities into rural lands and investigates the root causes of this phenomenon, including the "Galactic City Model," population growth, and single-use zoning laws. It uses satellite imagery timelapses to visually demonstrate how green rural spaces are replaced by low-density urban development over decades. The video systematically breaks down the impacts of sprawl into social, economic, and environmental categories. It encourages critical thinking by asking viewers to categorize these impacts as positive (affordable housing, more space) or negative (traffic, pollution, loss of biodiversity). The narrative explains how decentralized "edge cities" create a car-dependent lifestyle that strains infrastructure and increases carbon footprints. Ideal for geography and social studies classrooms, this resource concludes by introducing "Smart Growth" solutions. It explains concepts like mixed-use development, public transportation expansion, and greenbelts as modern strategies to combat sprawl. The video is designed with built-in pause points and questions, making it an excellent interactive tool for introducing urban planning, human-environment interaction, and sustainable development.