verbaute

Verbaute is a German adjective used mainly in geography and urban planning. It derives from the verb verbauen, meaning to build into, to obstruct, or to cover. The term describes land that has been developed or occupied by buildings, infrastructure, or other built forms, as opposed to undeveloped or open land.

In practice, "verbaute Fläche" refers to the portion of a given area that is covered by constructed surfaces such as buildings, roads, parking lots, and other impervious surfaces. It is used to assess population and land-use density, planning needs, and environmental effects like runoff and groundwater recharge. The term is common in German-speaking planning documents, statistical reports, and environmental assessments.

Variants of the term are used in phrases like "verbaute Fläche" or "verbaute Gebiete." In English-language contexts, the concept is usually translated as "built-up," "built-over," or "developed." Related terms include "bebaut" (built/developed), "Versiegelung" (impervious surface or sealing of land), and "Verbauung" (the process or result of building upon a site). The concept of verbaute areas is important for comparisons of urban form, infrastructure planning, and sustainable development across regions.