Arun.C.Babu

12AR60R09

URBANIZATION IN CITY OF CURITIBA, BRAZIL

Area

Curitiba.....432 sq.km

Metropolitan region (mrc)

26 municipalities.....15,6022sq.km

Curitiba, Brazil  was founded in 1693 by Portuguese explorers and has since become one of the world's most efficient cities. Dubbed the “eco-capital” of the world, Curitiba proves that with good governance and social cooperation, a clean, efficient, bustling urban center is possible. Although part of an underdeveloped country, Curitiba manages to flourish and run more efficiently than most developed, industrialized cities.

The urban population in Curitiba, Brazil is rapidly growing. With this population growth came the development of squatter settlements.  The population is still increasing in these settlements. This makes Curitiba an example of the impact of extended urbanization in environmentally vulnerable areas. The development of informal settlements within its water supply watersheds has caused many issues. These settlements formed in areas where certain services could not always available, such as sewage systems, water, and transportation.  These areas are located in areas that are environmentally at-risk.

DEMOGRAPHY

Population

Curitiba...........................1,851,215

Metropolitan area.....1,456,730

Total.................................3,307,945

In 1990, 42 % of the population was under the age of 18. This built-in population momentum is expected to add another 1 million people to the population of Curitiba by the year 2020. In recent years, population growth has finally slowed down; the 2006 estimate of Brazil’s rate of population growth is 1.04%, a significant reduction from the past average of 4%. Although Curitiba’s 2005 estimated population was 1.76 million (3.2 million in the entire metropolitan area), the city operates smoothly and resourcefully, meeting the multiple needs of its citizens with as few resources as possible.

A Brief History urbanization:

        Brazil’s motto is known as “Order and Progress”, which is illuminated in their efforts to form creative approaches to deal with overcrowding, poverty, pollution while dealing with the strains of limited public spending.

1854- Population surpassed 50,000 people 1940- Curitiba experiencing rapid growth due to people being attracted to their

thriving agriculture It is that thriving agriculture that brought three times the population to Curitiba, in

turn creating a high demand for a new transit system in order to keep up with the ever-growing population.

Alfred Agache, an architect, was hired to reduce traffic congestion with the ever-populated streets.

Rerouted traffic patterns in an arc-like manner, creating patterns that stem out from this city to reduce clogged streets downtown.

1960- Population increased to 430,00 people, therefore causing Agache’s plan to be ill-suited for such growth.

Needed a new plan to reduce the ever-increasing flow of downtown traffic while also proving accessible, cost efficient public transit system.

New architect, Lerner, created a new plan to add several main linear transit arteries in an effort to increase the speed of routes in and out of the city- more direct routes. Her plan was adopted in 1968.

1980- “Green Era”- The current transit system was expanded to include color coding the bus lines.

1990’s- Population had reach 1.4 million people, clearly calling for another reformation to the transit system.

EFFECT OF URBANIZATION IN CURITIBA

Turn of the 21st Century- Population had reached 1.8 million people.

After 1950, urbanization struck Curitiba which rapidly increased the city’s population, and set its reputation as a regional hub for business.

Major effect- became 2nd largest car manufacturer in the country Major effect- became best city for the financial sector and its investors to reside Became large tourist area Home to many industries including Nissan, Renault, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo,

HSBC, Siemens, ExxonMobil, Electrolux and Kraft Foods, as well as many well known national industries, such as Sadia, O Boticário, Positivo Informática.

POPULATION GROWTH AND URBANIZATION

Population growth rates

year 1970-80 1980-91 1991-96 1996-00 2000-08 2008-09Growth rate 5.34 2.29 2.34 1.83 1.71 1.26

Source- http://urbanizationurp3001.blogspot.in/2011/09/effects-of-urbanization-in-curitiba.html