Urban Development Industry Analysis
The urban development industry primarily plans and constructs city infrastructure and buildings. Urban infrastructure includes highways, rail roads, energy generation and distribution grids and water management and distribution lines. Urban construction comprises residential, commercial and government buildings. Enterprises which provide services for the improvement of urban areas are also part of the urban development industry.
The global demand for town development is increasing because of rising urbanization. By 2050 the percentage of the world’s population that resides in urban areas is projected to rise to 65% from the current 50%.
Key Segments
Key segments of the urban development market include:
Urban Infrastructure
- Transportation development includes rail and road transportation projects such as highways, rail-roads and bridges. Terminals such as airports, ports and stations are also major elements of urban transport infrastructure. Globally, transport infrastructure investment is projected to increase at an average annual rate of about 5% up to 2025.
- Energy development consists of constructing energy generation and distribution units. Energy generation and distribution are the processes through which power, generally electricity and gas, is produced and delivered through a transmission grid to consumers.
- Water and waste-management development covers establishing and improving water supply and distribution networks, wastewater treatment plants, waste collection networks and waste treatment and recycling plants. Efficient water and waste management systems are key requirements for sustainable progress in urban management.
Urban Construction
- Residential building comprises erecting independent houses and apartment blocks. Global residential construction is expected to grow at an average of 3% annually in the foreseeable future.
- Commercial and government construction includes erecting non-residential public and private buildings such as hospitals, schools and offices. Urbanization, especially in developing countries, together with growing demand for office space and improving access to education and healthcare will steadily increase urban commercial and government construction in the coming years.
Regional Market Shares
Major regional segments in urban development market include North America, Europe and Asia.
North America is a significant market for urban development. Its ageing urban infrastructure and high demand for new homes are key drivers for the North American urban development market. It is estimated that the USA needs to invest $3.6 trillion to renovate and repair its roads, bridges, water and solid waste systems, energy systems and other infrastructure. New housing units in this region are expected to rise by more than 5% annually in the foreseeable future.
Europe’s urban development market also occupies a substantial share of the global market. According to the latest statistics 75% of the total population in the European Union lives in a town or city. Much of Europe’s urban infrastructure is ageing. Government funding and initiatives for new urban projects area key driver for the urban development market in Europe. For instance, a European Territorial Cooperation program called URBACT has been launched to promote sustainable urban development. Two URBACT programs are completed and the third phase, URBACT III, is ongoing.
The Asia-Pacific market presents significant opportunities for urban development. More than 50% of the worldwide urban population is in Asia-Pacific. Many countries in this region are now being developed for economic growth, leading to more effective policies for space management and the development of smart cities. For instance, about 190 pilot projects for smart cities have been approved in China and in India about 100 cities are planned for redevelopment as smart cities.
Market Outlook
Key trends in the urban development industry include:
- Development of smart cities. A smart city is a technologically-advanced urban region. It leverages existing and new infrastructure and technologies to develop and deploy services such as energy management, water and waste management in urban regions. The goal of the smart city design is to improve city services and transform urban areas. A smart city creates sustainable economic development and promotes ease of living.
