What is the total amount of paving in the US?

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SUMMARY

The total amount of paving in the United States has surpassed the area of the state of Ohio, as noted in a lecture from The Great Courses "How the Earth Works," recorded in 2008. The discussion highlights the difficulty in finding updated statistics, with the last known figures from 2019. Users are encouraged to explore various resources, including government reports and visual representations of paved areas, to gain a clearer understanding of the current situation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of land area measurement and comparison
  • Familiarity with government reports on infrastructure
  • Basic knowledge of urban planning concepts
  • Ability to interpret visual data representations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the latest government reports on paved areas in the US
  • Explore the visual maps provided by Fast Company for a graphical understanding
  • Investigate the methodology behind calculating total paving areas
  • Examine urban planning resources for insights on paving trends
USEFUL FOR

Urban planners, environmental researchers, civil engineers, and anyone interested in infrastructure development and land use in the United States.

CPW
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TL;DR
Amount of paving in the United States - surprising stat
While commuting I'm listening to The Great Courses "How the Earth Works" lecture series, and in one lecture the professor stated that the amount of paving (asphalt on the ground, buildings, concrete, etc.) in the United States is now greater than the area of the state of Ohio. The lectures were recorded in 2008.

I was unsuccessful in my short internet search to find a website to update the 2019 version of this statistic. Do any PF members know the current situation for the total amount of paving in the US?

What made me think to post this question to PF was when I heard my iPhone navigation instruct me to "stay in the left 4 lanes", which is telling of how wide the interstate gets during part of my daily commute.
 
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