Unveiling patterns in human dominated landscapes through mapping the mass of US built structures

David Frantz (), Franz Schug, Dominik Wiedenhofer, André Baumgart, Doris Virág, Sam Cooper, Camila Gómez-Medina, Fabian Lehmann, Thomas Udelhoven, Sebastian Linden, Patrick Hostert and Helmut Haberl
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David Frantz: Trier University
Franz Schug: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Dominik Wiedenhofer: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
André Baumgart: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
Doris Virág: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
Sam Cooper: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Camila Gómez-Medina: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Fabian Lehmann: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Thomas Udelhoven: Trier University
Sebastian Linden: University of Greifswald
Patrick Hostert: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Helmut Haberl: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Built structures increasingly dominate the Earth’s landscapes; their surging mass is currently overtaking global biomass. We here assess built structures in the conterminous US by quantifying the mass of 14 stock-building materials in eight building types and nine types of mobility infrastructures. Our high-resolution maps reveal that built structures have become 2.6 times heavier than all plant biomass across the country and that most inhabited areas are mass-dominated by buildings or infrastructure. We analyze determinants of the material intensity and show that densely built settlements have substantially lower per-capita material stocks, while highest intensities are found in sparsely populated regions due to ubiquitous infrastructures. Out-migration aggravates already high intensities in rural areas as people leave while built structures remain – highlighting that quantifying the distribution of built-up mass at high resolution is an essential contribution to understanding the biophysical basis of societies, and to inform strategies to design more resource-efficient settlements and a sustainable circular economy.

Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43755-5

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43755-5

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