User:Pedro B. Ortiz

see: www.PedroBOrtiz.com

Since June 2010, the world has reached the threshold where more than 50% of its population lives in cities. Growth of many metropolitan urban areas is experiencing an annual growth of 4% to 6%. This means a doubling of population each 15 years. It now takes only 15 years to grow as much as the regions did during the past 400 years. This phenomena is not natural growth nor even rapid growth. It can only be defined as explosive growth.

This phenomenon must be controlled to avoid the metastasis of slums that's currently taking place. If this is not addressed, these metropolises will be unsustainable and will not be incapable of competing in global markets. The World Bank is addressing this critical issue through its Urban Unit of the Sustainable Development Network, supporting the work done throughout the world by the Region Units (LAC, MENA, SSA, ECA, SEA, EPA).

Pedro Ortiz introduced a metropolitan growth methodology in the 1996 when he developed the Madrid Regional Plan, (the ORT, (Ordenacion Reticular del Territorio). This plan addressed the explosive growth Madrid was experiencing at that time (50% every 20 years). It was successful in controlling and monitoring the the city's growth in a sustainable manner (Spatial and Transport integrated policies). This methodology (Smart Metropolises: MetroCT Method) is now being enhanced and applied to numerous metropolises globally.