| Urban sprawl is a pattern of growth that is characterized with low density land use that usually occurs at the edge of cities. Sprawl is multi-dimensional and can be found in many different forms. If urban sprawl is not examined, it can lead to economic and social problems. To manage urban sprawl effectively, its characteristics must be quantified and studied. Using the Cutsinger et al. (2005) method, urban sprawl was measured in the urbanized area of Omaha. The characteristics of sprawl that were measured include housing unit density, job density, nuclearity, mixed use of jobs to housing units, mixed use of housing units to jobs, housing unit and job centrality, and housing unit and job proximity. The characteristics of urban sprawl were measured in 1990 and 2000 in Omaha, Nebraska, to see if urban sprawl increased or decreased during the decade. Measurements of sprawl decreased in density, centrality, and mixed use measurements, while it increased with the nuclearity and proximity. This information gives insights to city planners and other officials. Understanding and managing sprawl is essential to healthy urban growth. |
