Changing Urban Environments Flashcards
What are the characteristics of the CBD?
The central business district (eg Broadmead)
- shopping
- cinemas, clubs + restaurants
- business headquarters
- offices
- multistory car parking
How is land used in the Inner City?
eg Stokes Croft
exciting but troubled area, declined over years, where workers used to live in victorian era
-small shops, cafes, and restaurants
-terraced housing
-brownfield sites and abandoned housing/buildings
How is land used in the suburbs?
eg Westbury on Trym Once villages that are now part of the city -housing (detached + semi detached) -convenience stores - parks and gardens
How is land used in the Rural Urban Fringe?
eg Abbots Leigh used for leisure -woodlands and fields -large parks -small villages -housing (large detached)
What is an example of an Urban Land Use Model?
The Burgess Model
What is a greenfield site?
An area of land unbuilt on, fresh
eg Cribbs causeway
What is a brownfield site?
An area of land with buildings already on it that have to be knocked down in order to build more
eg Cabot circus
What is an example of a squatter settlement caused by rapid rural to urban migration?
Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya
psd – Where is Kibera located it + size, population etc
Kibera is located in the southern edge of Kenya’s capital city Nairobi ( RURAL URBAN FRINGE )
It is North of the Ngong river, a flood prone area reducing the cost of the land
1 Million people in 1 mile squared ( 1 metre of floor space per resident)
Case study: Kibera
What are the negative effects of living in the squatter settlement?
- Only 20% kibera has electricity
- Scarce water, has to be paid for as well as toilets
- Unsanitary open sewers -> rats, sewage, vermin, disease
- one of highest HIV/AIDS rate in Africa
- 50% unemployed
- recreational drugs
- High abortion rates
Case study: Kibera
How can the squatter settlement be improved with DIY schemes?
- Stealing electricity
- Improving housing with scrap material found
Case study: Kibera
How can the squatter settlement be improved by Assisted self help schemes?
- Film school provides residents with no education with physical and practical skills
- Gym allows an opportunity of escape for residents both in training and in competing in world events, MUAY THAI BOXING, ANDRE LEENHEER
Case study: Kibera
How can the settlement be improved by site and service and relocation?
- Kenya Slum upgrading project (KENSUP)
- residents moved, their homes improved with plumping, electricy, and mains connection
- residents pay monthly fee to encourage them to get work
-not sustainable due to sheer volume of people moving to slums
Case study: Kibera
How can the settlement benefit from international aid?
- kibera UK sends young students from MEDCS to help slum upgrading
- Comic relief raises awareness + funds
(not all funds go towards helping the area)
What is urbanisation?
Countryside and rural areas converted to town and city
What environmental factors have lead to urbanisation?
- Droughts causing water shortages
- Better communications abroad such as phone signal
- Access to raw materials
- More sites available for development
What social factors have lead to urbanisation?
- Better education in cities
- More shopping opportunities
- Better infrastructure and healthcare
- Isolation in community
What economic factors have lead to urbanisation?
- Mechanisation on agriculture
- Better wages
- More job opportunities
How is housing an issue for city environments in Britain?
- Increasing population by 7% since 1971
- Households have risen by 30% (due to more people living alone and so requiring more houses)
- Govt. wants to build 240,000 new homes per year (60% on brownfield sites)
- People against building on greenfield sites though
What are advantages and disadvantages of building on brownfield sites?
+ Improves ugly urban sites
+ Existing buildings can be split into multiple homes
+ Reduce urban sprawl and need for cars
+ Services already in place
- Often in undesirable areas
- Land needs clearing first
- Land may be polluted due to previous use
What are advantages and disadvantages of building on greenfield sites?
+ Cheaper to build on
+ Can aquire large amounts of land for extensive projects
+ Attractive scenery
- Less greenbelt for people to use for leisure
- Roads and utilities will need to be built and serviced
- Permanently destroys habitats
How did the olympic park in Stratford, London help target inner city decline?
- ODA spent £1.3 billion regenerating park and areas around it
International quarter now includes: - Stratford station, fast efficient network (£100 million investment)
- 4 million sqr ft of grade A office space
- 350 homes
- 15 000 new jobs
- New schools and open play areas
- ‘Urban wilds for plants etc
Why has there been a rise in the use of cars?
- Increasing demand for personal mobility
- 27% of households have more than one car
Why is the increase in cars a problem?
- Air and noise pollution form vehicles
- Discoloured buildings
- Health problems (eg Asthma)
- UGLY
What are the positive and negatives of London’s congestion zone charge?
CONGESTION ZONE AND FEE
+ Cuts down on pollution as people are persuaded to use public transport
+ Reduces traffic
+ Boosts economy for city
- £8 a day is too expensive
- Moves traffic problems to inner suburbs
- Financially affects business and tourism
How has Bristol become more sustainable?
- Parking charges
- Car shares
- Alternative fuel for buses
- Cycle paths
What are the Advantages and disadvantages of Bristols p + r services?
+ Cheap parking
+ Reduces traffic and pollution
+ Encourages use of public transport
+ Generates income for city
- Only certain routes available
- Long waits for buses
- Traffic around park and ride parking stations
- Seats aren’t guaranteeed
How does Bristol use alternative fuels to be more sustainable?
Hydrogen powered buses
Combustion of hydrogen releases nothing but water
However
Burning of fossil fuels takes place to extract hydrogen
Hydrogen filling stations are not common practice
How do car sharing lanes benefit bristol?
Designated 2+ lanes incentise car sharing as it makes it quicker to travel in a car share due to less cars in that lane
What factors can cause segregation?
- Language barriers
- Safety in numbers
- Access to places of worship
How has Leeds tackled segregation?
- Listened to Ethnic communities
- Improved English language taught in schools
- Free access to community facilities for ethnic groups to help migrate them
How have cities in the UK tackled segregation?
- Training to young Roma to help find work (Manchester)
- Elected council members have to complete course and training on racial awareness and equality (Cumbria)
- Race equality scorecard moniters race equality in local councils accross a number of factors ( eg schooling, employment, health) ( Runnymead trust)
How has Bristol combated CBD decline?
- Broadmead business district (£11 million flagship project)
- Cabot circus
Create a pleasant shopping experience and economic turnover
Why did people favour out of city shopping areas?
Inner city areas were becoming crowded and declining in the 1960s - 80s
Out of city areas were classy and attractive
What problems have been caused by rapid urbanisation and how are they attempting to be fixed?
Bangalore, India
Problem = e-waste burning harms people
Solution = Campaigns for TNCs to take more responcibility with their waste
Mexico City
Problem= 3 mil. cars a day through city causing respiratory problems
Solution = Even / odd, catalytic converters, Tight emissions testing on MOTs
Three gorges Dam, China
Problem = 265bil gallons of sewage, flooding of toxic waste sites
Solution = NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
