Contemporary Urban Environments

Question 1

What is urbanisation?

Answer 1

the increase in the proportion of people who live in urban environments.

Question 2

What is urban growth?

Answer 2

the increase in the total population of a town or city.

Question 3

List some of the risks of urbanisation…

Answer 3

-overpopulation and overcrowding
-informal settlements
-overpopulation can cause disease to spread quicker
-higher crime rates
-poverty and deprivation
-more traffic and congestion causing air pollution
-bad waste management

Question 4

List some opportunities of urbanisation…

Answer 4

-more job opportunities in large cities as there are more businesses
-access to more services
-potentially better health care or more access to it
-higher levels of education
-more recreation and entertainment

Question 5

What is urban expansion?

Answer 5

the increase in the size or geographical footprint of a city.

Question 6

What are mega cities?

Answer 6

cities with a population of over 10 million

Question 7

What are world cities?

Answer 7

cities that have attributes that make them special and have a wide global influence.

Question 8

What are the attributes of the demographic of a world city?

Answer 8

-large population
-high amount of well educated people
-ethnic diversity and tolerance

Question 9

What are the attributes of technology in a world city?

Answer 9

-good air access
-lots of good communication links
-lots of research and development taking place

Question 10

What are the attributes of the economy in a world city?

Answer 10

-lots of international banking, insurance and financial services
-lots of TNC headquarters
-prestigious equity market

Question 11

What are the attributes of culture in a world city?

Answer 11

-excellence in arts and entertainment
-rich heritage
-prestigious universities and research institutes