February 7, 2009

Two faculty members and a student in the PhD program in Urban and Regional Planning and Design are key contributors to Smart Urban Growth for China, just published by the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy.

The new book is co-edited by Yan Song (UNC Chapel Hill) and Maryland faculty member Chengri Ding. Ding is Associate Professor at the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland. He specializes in urban economics, housing and land studies, GIS and spatial analysis.

Professor Gerrit Knaap and PhD student Xingshuo Zhao are co-authors of the first chapter, "Smart Growth and Urbanization in China: Can an American Tonic Treat the Growing Pains of Asia?" This chapter explores the applicability of U.S. development models to the rapidly growing economies of the East.

Increasing concerns about global warming, soaring gas prices, and environmental degradation are triggering interest in sustainable development, and China is no exception. Through more than two decades of rapid economic growth, China's level of urbanization increased from 18 percent to 41 percent between 1978 and 2003, and it is expected to reach 65 percent by 2050. This growth threatens to produce shortages of land resources, damage to the environment, and social inequity, all of which pose difficult challenges for China's sustainable future.

Smart Urban Growth for China presents various perspectives on shaping a sustainable urban future for China based on the following questions: What lessons can China learn from other countries through their experiences in combating urban sprawl? What are the "dumb" growth patterns that are economically inefficient, environmentally unfriendly, or socially undesirable in Chinese cities? Finally, to what extent is China's fragmented planning system responsible for uncoordinated urban growth, and how might it be improved?

Click here to learn more about the book and to place an order.

The School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland is home to four academic disciplines: architecture, urban planning, historic preservation and real estate development. Committed to educating its students and community about the importance of sustainability and smart growth, the School practices an interdisciplinary approach to education, research, creative work, and community and professional service. For more information, please e-mail us or call 301.405.8000.

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