Urban sprawl in Canada: Values in all 33 Census Metropolitan Areas and corresponding 469 Census Subdivisions between 1991 and 2011

Abstract

The dataset presented here provides the degree of urban sprawl across 33 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) in Canada of 2011 together with the 469 Census Subdivisions (CSDs) located within the 2011 boundaries of the CMAs, for the years 1991, 2001, and 2011. The dataset contains the values of weighted urban proliferation (WUP) and weighted sprawl per capita (WSPC) and their components. The landscape-oriented value of WUP indicates how strongly the landscape within the boundaries of a reporting unit is sprawled per square meter, while WSPC is inhabitant-oriented and reveals how much on average an inhabitant or workplace is contributing to urban sprawl in the reporting unit. The values of the components of the WUP and WSPC metrics are provided as well: percentage of built-up area (PBA), urban dispersion (DIS), land uptake per person (LUP), and urban permeation (UP). The values of full-time equivalents for the numbers of jobs, which were considered in the calculation of LUP values (pertaining to the number of inhabitants and jobs) are also included in order to facilitate future research.

Keywords

• Built-up area
• Dispersion
• Suburbanization
• Urban development
• Urban growth
• Weighted urban proliferation (WUP)