3232 - Urban Forms, Megacities, Metacities Snd World Cities

Question 1

Define urban form

Answer 1

Refers to the physical characteristics that make up a built up area, including the shape, size density and organisation

Question 2

A factor that has contributed to the rapid rise of magacities?

Answer 2

Globalisation and economic competition between countries

Question 3

Name a striking feature of the last 30 years

Answer 3

Rapid development of megacities

Question 4

Define megacity

Answer 4

City or urban agglomeration with a population of more than 10 million people

Question 5

Example of a mega city

Answer 5

London achieved the status of a megacity in 2013 as the classification included the residents in greater London

Question 6

Name some negative features of megacities in LICs

Answer 6

Sprawled in haphazard fashion leading to challenge of providing employment, housing and basic services

Question 7

Name a positive feature of megacities

Answer 7

Produce 2-3 times more GDP than other cities

Question 8

Name 3 characteristics identified in the UNs report on urbanisation in 2014

Answer 8

1. Less environmentally damaging to provide public transport, housing, electricity, water,msanitiation for w densely settled urban pop than a dispersed rural pop
2. Access to larger and more diverse employment markets
3. Better levels of education and health care

Question 9

How many megacities were there in 1990?

Answer 9

10

Question 10

How many megacities were there in 2014

Answer 10

28

Question 11

How many mega cities are there printed to be in 2025

Answer 11

UN predicts 37, and will account for 13% of the world population

Question 12

Where is the development of megacities concentrated

Answer 12

Asia

Question 13

What was the world’s largest city in 2015

Answer 13

Tokoyo, with more than 38 million people

Question 14

Define a metacity

Answer 14

An conurbation with more than 20 million people

Question 15

Define world city

Answer 15

City with a global influence and impact e.g because of their financial status / global commercial power

Question 16

Five characteristics of a world city

Answer 16

1. High proportion of residents employed in services / information
2. Centre sod new ideas,p and innovation in business, economics and politics
3. Centres of media and communication
4. Financial headquarters
5. High quality educational institutions

Question 17

What can world cities be considered?

Answer 17

Hubs in which huge volumes of economic activity can be channelled

Question 18

Name the four types of ‘hub’

Answer 18

1. Hubs of business and international trade
2. Production hubs
3. Political hubs
4. Migration hubs

Question 19

Describe a hub of business and international trade

Answer 19

• strong connections to the rest of the world via the Internet and electronic communication by air or shipping
• they dominate global trade and consumer activity with headquarters for MNCs,international financial institutions, law firms, industrial giants and stock exchange that influences the world economy.
• high levels of personal wealth

Question 20

Describe a production hub

Answer 20

Most manufacturing plants are located in developing countries and newly industrialising countries his beer many decisions about marketing and production are made by TNCs most of which have headquartered in world cities

Question 21

Describe a political hub

Answer 21

World city politicians that dictate trading and economic links between countries.
- influence and participate in international events and world affairs

Question 22

Describe a migration hub

Answer 22

Attract large numbers of qualified talented people who are globally mobile
- they have increasingly diverse populations

Question 23

How do World cities dominate and influence?

Answer 23

They dominate and influence well beyond their national boarders they also dominate culturally e.g theatre capitals of the world

Question 24

What did Loughborough university do?

Answer 24

In 1998 they made an attempt to identity cities of global significance and attempted to rank them based on their financial influence cities were categorised from alpha ++ to gamma level.

Question 25

Describe alpha ++ cities

Answer 25

More integrated than all other cities and constitutes their own high levels of integration e.g London and New York

Question 26

Describe alpha + cities

Answer 26

High interrelated cities, filling in advanced services needed for Pacific Asia e.g Paris, Tokoyo

Question 27

Describe alpha cities

Answer 27

Very important world cities, linking major economic region and rates into the world economy e.g Chicago, Milan, Mumbai, LA

Question 28

Describe beta cities

Answer 28

Important world cities that link regions or states into the world economy e.g Lisbon or Copenhagen

Question 29

Describe gamma cities

Answer 29

World cities that link smaller regions or states into the world economy and who’s major services is not in the advanced producer services

Question 30

Are world cities always the biggest?

Answer 30

No, however in the past they were usually the biggest cities however today it is their global influence and impact that is important