Concept information

Preferred term

urban sprawl  

Definition

  • The physical pattern of low-density expansion of large urban areas under market conditions into the surrounding agricultural areas. Sprawl lies in advance of the principal lines of urban growth and implies little planning control of land subdivision. Development is patchy, scattered and strung out, with a tendency to discontinuity because it leap-frogs over some areas, leaving agricultural enclaves.

Broader concept

URI

http://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/concept/7625

Download this concept:

RDF/XML TURTLE JSON-LD Created 9/8/04, last modified 9/8/04