Nucleated Urban Growth Effects on Transportation Energy Consumption

An aggregate digital computer simulation model was used to test the urban passenger transportation energy consumption associated with different patterns of nuclear growth in a hypothetical city. The model simulated the effects of various central and noncentral locations for residential, employment, and retail growth clusters. Centralized urban growth is more efficient, in terms of transportation energy consumption, than noncentralized growth. Off-center manufacturing employment clusters are the least energy efficient of non-centralized cluster, and clusters at the edge of the established urban area are less attractive for all land use types. The implications for near term urban decision making are explored.