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96 S. Siedentop and S. Fina
and local land use planning practice particularly in suburban, exurban and rural areas. New
development that is located far away from urban services and train stations fuels the
dependence on personal motorised transportation and increases travel distances and fuel
consumption. Future land use policies have to focus more on location aspects of new
development rather than solely on a reduction of land consumption for urban purposes.
However, this requires methodological agreement on how to evaluate the outcomes of a
more transport-oriented location policy.
7. Further research prospects
In this article, we have presented a conceptual framework for monitoring urban sprawl. We
have also tested its implementation and received some very useful information on the nature
of sprawl in Germany. Although we consider the framework to be robust and comprehensive,
we very much see the implementation side as an initial piece of work that requires much
further research. In particular, we are critically aware of some of the shortcomings of the data
used for this exercise, which will hopefully improve with future data releases and improved
land use data models.
Significant progress could also be achieved if multi-temporal data became available on a
continuous basis. The release of 2006 CORINE land cover data already serves as a critical
step in the right direction. Furthermore, it will provide information to detect the more recent
trends in urban sprawl. In general, our framework is designed to undertake small-scale
observations. We recommend a Europe-wide approach for sprawl monitoring, using the data
sources and standards that are currently evolving as part of the environmental monitoring
efforts of the European Union. In this prospect we rely on the work of other researchers,
particularly in the collation and harmonisation of area statistics for the European Union.
Finally, we see merit in complementing and integrating the results of our research with
monitoring frameworks that focus on the local effects of sprawl, within urban areas. These
frameworks would address specific aspects of social, economic and environmental functions
of cities that are negatively affected by urban sprawl.
Note
1. The fact that CORINE land cover data does not contain very small settlements eliminates the
potential effect that many small features in rural areas could cause excessively high patch densities.
In theory, an indicator should be capable of handling many small features. However, patch density
has weaknesses in this respect. The data limitation works like a filter for settlement size and
produces a desirable outcome.
References
Ackermann, W., and Schweiger, M. (2008), Umweltforschungsplan Des Bundesministeriums Für
Umwelt, Naturschutz Und Reaktorsicherheit, F+E Vorhaben ‘‘Indikatoren Für Die Nationale
Strategie Zur Biologischen Vielfalt’’: Bericht Zum Workshop ‘‘Zersiedelungsindikator’’,
München: PAN Planungsbüro für angewandten Naturschutz GmbH.
American Farmland Trust (1994), Farming on the Edge: A New Look at the Importance and
Vulnerability of Agriculture Near American Cities, Washington, DC: American Farmland Trust.
Angel, S., Parent, J., and Civco, D. (2007), ‘‘Urban Sprawl Metrics: An Analysis of Global Urban
Expansion Using GIS,’’ in ASPRS 2007 Annual Conference (Proceedings), Tampa, pp. 1–12.
Anthony, J. (2004), ‘‘Do State Growth Management Regulations Reduce Sprawl?’’ Urban Affairs
Review, 39, 376–397.