Planning; conservation of the physical environment.

The occurrence of valuable natural resources such as mineral, timber, and rich soils and the location of transportation routes have historically exerted a major influence on regional development and world affairs. For some cities, regions, and nations, their growth, economic welfare, and decline were and still are directly related to these factors. Some of the more serious environmental problems associated with the accelerating worldwide urbanization taking place today demonstrate not only that these factors are still major considerations but that other facets of the resource base must also be taken into consideration if an attractive and viable environment is to be created and preserved. Because of its many impacts on regional development, comprehensive area-wide transportation planning particularly must recognize the existence of a limited natural resource base to which urban and rural development must be properly adjusted to ensure a pleasant and habitable environment. Proper emphasis on the natural resource base in area-wide transportation planning requires the collection and analysis of a great deal more information about the resource base than has been the usual practice in comprehensive transportation planning efforts. It requires, moreover, the cooperative efforts of many disciplines. The application of the knowledge and skills of these disciplines in comprehensive transportation planning is a problem that has only recently received attention. Solutions to this problem are now being sought by many groups under various auspices. The papers published in this Highway Research Record were presented at a 1969 conference session on "Planning: Conservation of the Physical Environment." The session was sponsored jointly by the Department of Urban Transportation Planning; Department of Economics, Finance and Administration; and Department of Soils, Geology and Foundations. A principal purpose of the joint session was to bring earth resource scientists and planners together at a common forum to help resolve the serious communication problems that now exist between the two groups. Each group works in its own principal area and is hardly aware of the work of the other. The earth scientist collects and presents his data mainly for use by other earth scientists and in a form not only unusable but often not understandable to the planner. The planner, in turn, seldom has the time to study the earth scientist's work and properly relate it to long-range comprehensive planning. The problem of communication appears to be the greatest stumbling block that earth scientists face in attempting to make the results of their work a significant input to the comprehensive planning process. In a brief introduction Cloud provides a historical background showing that geological factors have affected man's life and works from the earliest times and in a variety of ways. He distinguishes negative aspects of geology such as earthquakes and landslides from the positive aspects of construction and industrial materials. These factors and limitations can be understood and taken account of in the planning of cities and transportation networks if this importance is appreciated and acted upon Cloud suggests that to relieve stress in existing cities entirely new ones be designed and that they be formed around new urban grant universities. Some principles that are emerging as a basis for the conduct of urban transportation planning programs as given by Bauer are that transportation planning must be conducted concurrently with, and cannot be separated from, land-use planning; that both must incorporate the formulation of area-wide development objectives; and that both must recognize the existence of a limited natural resource base. Bauer lists seven sequential steps in the urban transportation planning process and concludes that if area-wide urban growth is to work for the benefit of man and not his detriment, adjustment of that growth to the capacity of the resource base must become the major development objective of a growing area. Attainment of this objective must start with planning. Thomas defines "water resource" broadly as a part of the natural resource base. As a nuisance it is a cause of annoyance, inconvenience, or injury that is an invasion of the rights of a person or community. Urbanization may change the hydrology of an area profoundly in total runoff, in peak-flow characteristics, in quality of water, and in the appearance of lakes, stream valleys, and other features. Vogely points out that urbanization is creating problems in resource availability. Failure to recognize these problems and to take the alternative steps available will result in an increasing economic burden. Planning, using new approaches through computer simulation, and research and development of new technologies hold the hope of reducing the economic burden and permitting resource use without the conflicts now inherent. More effort is needed. The public must be apprised of the seriousness of the problem and the cost of doing nothing. Hilpman and Stewart recognize a wide range of physical factors that can be used in making geologic maps as an aid for planning urban development. Isolating the physical factors to be measured is an easy task for the geologist, but for determining the form in which to present the data the geologist must rely on the expressed needs of the user of the information.' Hilpman and Stewart as well as all the other authors employ the word conservation in the broad context of wise use of the physical environment as distinct from mere preservation.