A recent Pew Research Center report states that the U.S. population is on track to surpass 438 million in 2050. This is a significant increase from previous estimates.
This increase would take the U.S.’s current population of 303 million to 124 million people per square mile. It would also boost land per capita by approximately 85 people per spare mile, which is roughly 85 in the United States. How will the U.S. survive with less space?
Simply create more.
While technology today makes it possible to do many things that were impossible before, many of those resources that allow us to increase our living space are not new. One simple product, which was first used by the Egyptians, could give us tomorrow’s breathing space. This product can be described as concrete.
But how can concrete help us create more space and living areas?
– High-rise apartment buildings. We have learned to take the skies, as space is increasingly limited. Concrete masonry buildings with an upward orientation are both cost-effective and sustainable.
– Retaining walls. What do you do when there are no mountains, rivers or lakes left? Concrete segmental retaining walls are a barrier that can be extended and held in place by land masses, creating a level surface suitable for future living.
– Levees. Levees made of concrete or land are used to control high waters and create livable land. Future populations will be able to create new land masses by extending levees beyond certain coastline lines.
Concrete construction is an affordable way to create almost any kind of creation. It can also be used to create new space in an age of exponential population growth that threatens our land per person. You can find more information about concrete masonry and related products at www.cementmasonry.com www.ncma.org.
