Integrated Urban Modeling with SmartPlans on Five Canadian Cities

SmartPlans was applied to study the interaction between land use and transportation systems and their impact on sustainability and health in the following five Canadian metropolitan areas: Halifax, Nova Scotia; London, Ontario; Vancouver, British Columbia; Ottawa, Ontario; and Calgary, Alberta

PHASE I: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA & LONDON, ONTARIO

The Halifax Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is located along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada that has a land area of about 5,496 sq.km. Based on the 2016 Canadian Census, the CMA has a total population of 403,390, which represents a 3.3% increase from 2011. As a capital of Nova Scotia, the Halifax CMA is currently ranked 1st and 13th in the provincial and national population ranking, respectively. Furthermore, the CMA has a total of 194,630 jobs as of 2016, where health care and social assistance (13.66%), retail trade (12.77%), and public administration (11.42%) are the top three dominant industries in the CMA.

The London Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is located in Southwestern Ontario that has a land area of approximately 2,662 sq.km. Based on the 2016 Canadian Census, the CMA has a total population of 494,069, which is a 4.1% increase from 2011. The London CMA is currently ranked 5th and 11th in the provincial and national population ranking, respectively. Furthermore, the CMA has a total of 215,505 jobs as of 2016, where health and social assistance (15.94%), retail trade (12.51%), and manufacturing (10.60%) are the top three dominant industries in the CMA.

PHASE II: VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

The Vancouver Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is located in the southwest corner of British Columbia that has a land area of about 2,883 sq.km. Based on the 2016 Canadian Census, the CMA has a total population of 2,463,431, which represents a 6.5% increase from 2011. The Vancouver CMA is currently ranked 1st and 3rd in the provincial and national population ranking, respectively. Furthermore, the CMA has a total of 1,111,450 jobs as of 2016, where retail trade (12.30%), health care and social assistance (11.20%), and professional, scientific, and technical services (10.64%) are the top three dominant industries in the CMA.

PHASE III: OTTAWA, ONTARIO

The Ottawa Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is located in the northeastern border of Ontario and in the south border of Quebec that has a land area of about 6,767 sq.km. Based on the 2016 Canadian Census, the CMA has a total population of 1,323,783, which represents a 5.5% increase from 2011. As the capital of Canada, the Ottawa CMA is currently ranked 5th in the national population ranking. In addition, Ottawa ranked 2nd most populated CMA in Ontario, while it ranked 3rd in Quebec. Furthermore, the CMA has a total of 642,340 jobs as of 2016, where public administration (23.93%), health care and social assistance (11.71%), and retail trade (11.08%) are the top three dominant industries.

PHASE IV: CALGARY, ALBERTA

The Calgary Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is located in Southern Alberta that has a land area of 5,110 sq.km. Based on 2016 Canadian Census, the CMA has a total population of 1,392,609, which represents a 14.6% increase from 2011. The Calgary CMA is currently ranked 1st and 4th in the provincial and national population ranking, respectively. Furthermore, the CMA has a total of 640,120 jobs as of 2016, where retail trade (12.19%), health care and social assistance (12.09%), and professional, scientific, and technical services (10.90%) are the top three dominant industries in the CMA.