Cities in the Third Wave: The Technological Transformation of Urban AmericaLeonard I. Ruchelman Group:Peter HellerKate McCauleyAdam Neumeyer

The Transformation of Urban America

Preindustrial

Industrial

Postindustrial

Preindustrial CitiesSmall populations (typically less than 30,000 people)Small size allowed for personal networks between friends, family and businessesSmall scale manufacturing limited by hand tools, hydraulic power, and the use of animalsLocated on waterfronts/ mill sites (functioned as market centers)

Industrial CitiesSudden rapid increase in the population of citiesGrowth in Western citiesRailroadRail Mileage Grew RapidlySteam-powered locomotive Western development Connected the East and West coast Mass Production Huge new factoriesSteam PowerProvider of industrial power Steel Upgrade from ironInventions telephone, light bulb, refrigerated rail carsImprovements - Street surfacing, public lighting, water and sewerage systems

From Urban Concentration to Suburban DeconcentrationIn 1950 23% of Population in United States lived in suburbsIn 1960 31% of Population in United States lived in suburbsIn 1990 46% of Population in United States lived in suburbs

The Great Migration: Population Decline of Ten Major Old-Line Cities

Other Changes in the MetropolisDecline in Central City EmploymentJobs move to the suburbsThose that need jobs the most do not have themMetropolis changes to Megalopolis

MegalopolisLarge urbanized area around a certain cityBoston to Washington, D.C.Florida peninsulaNorthern CaliforniaSouthern California

Global RestructuringGeographic location means nothingManufacturing jobs leave United StatesAdvanced technology helps regions grow

Ten Metropolitan Regional Economies with the Highest growth

Ten Metropolitan Regional Economies with the Lowest growth Rates (ranked by change in rate of output

Key Characteristics of Cities in the Preindustrial, Industrial, and Postindustrial Stages

CharacteristicPreindustrialIndustrialPostindustrialTime Frame17th and 18th century1830s plus1950s plusPower SourcesWind, Water, AnimateSteam/Internal Combustion SuperconductivityTechnological AdvancementAgricultural Tools(Plow)EnergyInformationRole of TechnologyExtractionFabricationProcessMain ProductFoodCommoditiesKnowledgeSocial InstitutionFamily FarmMills, FactoriesR&D CentersMain Labor ForceFarmersFactory WorkersInformation WorkersMain Mode of MovementPedestrian, Horse, and CarriageRail, AutomobileTelecommutingDivision of Labor(Skills)SimpleHighly Specialized(Routine)Very Highly Specialized(Customization)Division of Labor(Geographical)CityRegionalInternationalMarket PlaceCommonsCBD/MallElectronic NetworkUrban PatternHuman NetworkMonocentricGlobal NetworksSocial PatternIntegratedSegregatedHighly Segregated

Third Wave TechnologiesTelecommunication SystemsWireless CommunicationsInternet and the Worldwide Information ExplosionElectronic ApplicationsTechnological Reshaping of WorkInformation Technology and the Emergence of New Spatial Patterns

Telecommunication SystemsFoundationsTelegraph Telephone Methods of CommunicationsAnalogDigitalComputersVacuum tubesTransistor Circuits Computer chips

Wireless CommunicationsInvented in 1896 by Guglielmo MarconiFour types: one-way receiver, two-way dispatch, two-way mobile/portable phones, and two-way dataMany uses: tracking, communications22,000 transmission sites in U.S., with 100,000 more in next ten years

The Internet is BornPrior to its introduction, there were only small islands of communicationIntroduction in 1969 limited use to four sites that possessed text based computerized switches (ARPANET)Enormous growth (1990- 313,000 users/ 1992- < 1,000,000)Multiple benefits:Allows anyone to transmit any message to millions of recipientsQuick and easy global communicationLarge stores of information

Electronic ApplicationsVirtual MuseumsLibraries connected to the InternetElectronic College CampusesTelemedicineElectronic Banking/Financial ServicesSmart CardsTeleshopping

Transformation of JobsIncreasing computers = increasing downsizing Disappearance of the traditional job (agriculture, services, ect.)Changing job locationsExpanding the range of services

Information Technology and the Emergence of New Spatial Patterns

Front Office Functions

Routine Back-Office Functions

Goods and Distribution

Complex Office Work

Types Of CitiesHeadquarters CitiesInnovation CentersModule Production PlacesBorder CitiesRetirement CentersLeisure-Tourism PlaygroundsEdge Cities

Headquarters CitiesAlso known as World, Global, or Capital CitiesCharacteristics of Headquarter CitiesLeaders in global markets for commodities and investment capital, foreign exchange, equities, and bondsHigh concentration of corporate headquartersLocations of national and international headquarters of trade and professional associationsLocations for national and international media organizations, news and information servicesMajor cultural capitals

New YorkFinancial CapitalLeads in advertising and lawComputer and engineering services are drawn to the suburbsWall Street prospers = New York prospersSite of a new high tech sectorSilicon AlleyCultural CapitalPopular destination for touristImmigrants

Los AngelesMilitary defense expendituresHigh-technology telecommunications centerManage militaryLocation on Pacific RimTrade between the West and the EastDiversity of ethnic groupsRapid growth of foreign tradeFinancial hub of the Western U.S.

Innovation CentersR&D Centers are self-sustainingKey Sectors: electronics and telematics, biotechnology, aerospace, nuclear technology, medical technology, environmental technology and space.Examples Silicon Valley, Route 128

Modular Production PlacesPlaces where routine tasks are preformedExamples: production of cars and processing of magazine subscriptionsPlaces: Detroit and Newark

Border CitiesLabor CentersLarge Immigrant PopulationsUndocumented Workers = low wagesTrade and financial centersImporting, marketing, and distributing goodsUtilized by the very wealthy Latin AmericansShoppingRecreationWealth Security

MiamiStrategically positioned between North and South America and the CaribbeanLeading gateway to Latin America and the CaribbeanImmigration of large numbers of Latin AmericansBilingual Spanish speaking residentsGlobalization of the world economyEliminated Trade BarriersTourismForeign Banking

Retirement CentersIncreasing numbers of people (b/c growth and life expectancy)RelocationConsequences:- communities have to deal with changes in pensions, social security and medicare- lower industrial development

Leisure-Tourism PlaygroundsOne of the largest industries in the United StatesThe United States is the second most popular travel destination in the worldConsist of theme parks, gambling casinos, consumer shopping centers, sports arenas, and exhibition centers

Las VegasDeveloped gambling as a major industrySpurs growth and lower unemploymentEconomic backbone of Las Vegas30% of all jobs are in hotels, gaming, and recreationFastest growing metropolitan area in the nationFor every 100,000 people who come to play, 250 stayAdds up to 75,000 new residents every yearThere is no corporate or personal income tax

Edge CitiesDefined as: high-order multifunctional centers which have emerged in the outer suburban areasAppeared in the 1950s b/c of automobiles and communication technology Three types:UptownsBoomersGreenfields Are they real communities?

Cities in the Third WaveThe Role of Growth Coalitions in CitiesCitistates in the Global EconomyCities as Entertainment CentersSuburban Sprawl and Political FragmentationThe Prognosis for Core Cities and Older Metros

The Role of Growth Coalitions in CitiesUrban restructuring is shaped by continuously changing economic conditionsIssue of domination results in an uneven capacity to attract growth, which in turn provides advantages and disadvantages to groups

Citistates in the Global EconomyA metropolitan areaStimulated by advancements in telecommunications, trade agreementsSource of entrepreneurial leadership

Cities in Pursuit of Niche MarketsCities create a certain drawExamples gambling, tourism, convention centers, back-office operationsProblems get dumped on poor cities

Cities as Entertainment CentersHigh-tech funSports arenas, cultural centers, entertainment-enhanced retailing, and urban theme parksRestore central citiesBring back what they have been losing to the suburbs

Suburban Sprawl and Political FragmentationSuburbs healthiest parts of the metropolitan economyTechnology makes possible a spatial leapfrogging pattern Edge cities and Industrial ParksSegregation of income groupsGated Communities

Are Core Cities Doomed?While futurists are skeptical, their success depends on many variables.Negative Pulls:Business relocationTechnological advancesSocial problemsDeclining economyGrowth of diverging jobs/ job skillsPositive Pulls:Central business locationsPopulation lifestylesEnvironmental factorsEnvironment for innovationUrbanized economies

ConclusionAll cities must be able to adapt to change in order to progress.

Remember that the measure of a civilization is not the tools it owns, but the use it makes of them. L. Ruchelman