Urban ecosystem

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Bangkok, Thailand

Urban ecosystems are the cities, towns,

and urban strips constructed by humans.
This is the growth in the urban population
and the supporting built infrastructure has
affected both urban environments and
also on areas which surround urban areas.
These include semi or 'peri-urban'
environments that fringe cities as well as
agricultural and natural landscapes. Semi
environments can also be called peri-
urban.

Nowadays scientists are developing ways

to measure and understand the effects of
urbanization on human and environmental
health.[1]
By considering urban areas as part of a
broader social-ecological system,[2]
scientists can investigate how urban
landscapes function and how they affect
other landscapes with which they interact.
In this context, urban environments are
affected by their surrounding environment
but also affect that environment. Knowing
this may provide clues as to which
alternative development options will lead
to the best overall environmental outcome.

CSIRO CSE's[3] urban ecosystem research

is focused on:
 Understanding how cities work as
integrated social-ecological systems
Developing sustainable approaches to
development of city fringe areas that
reduce negative impact on surrounding
environments
Developing approaches to urban design
that provide for health and opportunity
for citizens.

Current Research
Creating urban sustainability - CSIRO is
applying its technological expertise to
help Australia improve the sustainability
of its cities.[4]