Within a few years we can expect the planet to become more crowded, resources more precious, and innovative urban planners largely crucial. By mid-century, the world's population will likely exceed nine billion, and more than half of the population is expected to live in cities. What will these cities be like? Urban planning will have a crucial role to play in ensuring a comfortable life for the people of this world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayFor centuries, successful urban planning has required careful attention to the environmental consequences of urban development. Civilizations have found different ways to deal with environmental problems. For example, thanks to sewer systems, the Romans were able to build and sustain large cities with reliable public water supplies and excellent public health conditions for centuries. In other civilizations, however, residents simply abandoned cities when they could no longer rely on water resources. their environment to provide the resources they needed. In most cases this was the result of their own actions, such as: deforestation, epidemics due to contaminated water and air pollution. Urban planning began as a profession largely dedicated to averting different types of crises arising from urban growth and providing conditions for public health. Due to technological progress during the 19th century, the deterioration of air and water quality has made it necessary to introduce regulations to protect the health of residents of developing cities. Since the 1950s, however, planers no longer exclusively target the health effects of developing cities. residents as the main environmental concern. Their focus has shifted towards a deeper understanding of natural processes and a growing awareness of the long-term environmental impacts of cities, from local to planetary scales. This focus remains the same even today. In modern urban planning, there are two general categories of sustainable development. The former does not question the current dynamics of cities, allowing them to remain largely low-density and car-oriented, but still makes them the subject of measures aimed at reducing their environmental burden. The second focuses on increasing urban density and reducing dependence on the automobile. On a regional scale, it aims to reduce sprawl by creating a network of high-density multifunctional centers interconnected by public transport. Today it is common for plans with a metropolitan scope to follow this approach. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In the long term, we need to find a suitable way to plan future cities taking into account the environment and its importance for our lives and that of animals. Governments are doing their best and focusing their budget on countless research. But, most importantly, those who must play an important role in this game are the residents of these cities themselves.