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SETTLEMENT STRUCTURE, WORK-TRIPS AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION

ORTSSTRUKTUR, ARBETSRESOR OCH ENERGIFOERBRUKNING

This report is a study of the connection between place structure and energy consumption as regards commuting. This is accomplished by studying the development of built-up areas and commuting in the west of Sweden, chiefly during the first half of the 1970's. The possibilities of locating housing and workplaces in closer proximity to each other in order to reduce commuting and energy consumption are also investigated. Another purpose of the study is to deal with some factors and conditions of importance for the future development of built-up areas and thereby also of commuting. The assumption as to how the location of housing and workplaces affects the shaping of built-up areas, commuter traffic and the resultant energy consumption are chiefly based on two deciding factors, viz. The importance of running certain activities in large units and the demand for housing of varying quality. A region with a large central place (Gothenburg), a place structure with a medium-sized central place (Skoevde) and a place structure consisting of several small places (vara) have been chosen. The study is in three parts. The first consists of theoretical aspects of the location of activities and dwellings. Attention is paid to the fact that a number of different circumstances constitute the framework for the development of a settlement pattern and that these factors change in course of time. Special interest is focused on the aspects of the economies and diseconomies of scale as well as the demand for housing when formulating a model approach. In the second part of the study, an attempt is made to determine the prerequisites of locating workplaces close to residential housing. Trends of development in the size and age structure of population as well as the regional distribution of population and dwellings are investigated. Studies of the distribution of employment opportunities and residential areas at the county and municipal levels in the west of Sweden show that workplaces and dwellings are becoming located further and further apart from one another. As the imbalance between work and housing is greater in the major urban area of Gothenburg than in other parts of western Sweden the third section of the study draws attention to the possibilities of locating housing and workplace close to one another in this area. In conclusion desirable place structures are also discussed from the point of view of occupational demands and planning aims in a broader geographical and more long-term perspective. The studies indicate that, from an energy aspect a settlement structure consisting of population centres with 5000-50000 inhabitants would appear to be most advantageous. Within such population centres, peoples' housing requirements can usually be satisfied near the workplace, often within walking or cycling distance, which is the best transport solution from an energy point of view. (TRRL)

  • Corporate Authors:

    Gothenburg University, Sweden

    Kulturgeografiska Institutionen, Fack
    Gothenburg,   Sweden 
  • Authors:
    • Lorentzon, S
  • Publication Date: 1979

Language

  • Swedish

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 291 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00315188
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
  • Report/Paper Numbers: NR 64 Thesis
  • Files: ITRD, TRIS
  • Created Date: Oct 27 1980 12:00AM