Unveiling patterns in human dominated landscapes through mapping the mass of US built structures

This study assesses the mass of built structures in the conterminous US, quantifying 14 stock-building materials across eight building types and nine mobility infrastructures. High-resolution maps reveal that built structures are 2.6 times heavier than all plant biomass, with most inhabited areas mass-dominated by buildings or infrastructure. Analysis shows densely built settlements have lower per-capita material stocks, while sparsely populated regions exhibit higher intensities due to widespread infrastructure. Out-migration exacerbates high intensities in rural areas. The study highlights the importance of quantifying built-up mass for understanding societies' biophysical basis and informing sustainable strategies.

David Frantz, Franz Schug, Dominik Wiedenhofer, André Baumgart, Doris Virág, Sam Cooper, Camila Gómez-Medina, Fabian Lehmann, Thomas Udelhoven, Sebastian van der Linden, Patrick Hostert, Helmut Haberl