Contemporary Urban Environments

Question 1

Urban growth

Answer 1

The increase in total population of a town or city

Question 2

Urbanisation

Answer 2

The increase in proportion of people living in urban centres

Question 3

Urban expansion

Answer 3

Increase in size or geographical footprint of a city

Question 4

De-industrialisation

Answer 4

The long-term decline of a country’s manufacturing sector

Question 5

Factors of deindustrialisation

Answer 5

1. Reduced need for labour
2. Globalisation
3. Increases costs
4. Reduced demand

Question 6

Decentralisation

Answer 6

The movement of industry away from the inner city

Question 7

Factors of decentralisation

Answer 7

1. Competition for space
2. Rent
3. Opportunity

Question 8

Causes of the rise of service sector economy

Answer 8

1. Increased demand
2. Tourism
3. Growth in research ana development
4. Rise of knowledge economy
5. Growth in corporate headquarters

Question 9

Cultural and heritage quarters

Answer 9

Presence of cultural production to encourage growth - revitalise local economy in creative industries

Question 10

Gentrified areas

Answer 10

-conversion of previously working-class inner city areas to more middle class areas 
Or
- renovation of run down properties by individuals - more valuable

Question 11

Edge cities

Answer 11

• settlements -emerges beyond city boundary and developed
• usually in outer suburbs - near main roads
• often have mixed offices, residential and leisure spaces

Question 12

Fortress developments

Answer 12

• landscapes designed for security - can involve segregation of people - keep others safe
• e.g cctv, street lighting, mosquito alarms

Question 13

Town centre mixed developments

Answer 13

• commercial, residential, cultural, institutional, industrial uses combined
• connected physically and functionally
• can include multiple functions

Question 14

Characteristics of a post modern city

Answer 14

1. Cities planned in fragments - focus on aesthetic not social needs
2. Multi-nodal urban structures containing high tech corridors
3. Service sector based economy that focuses on niche markets - a globalised economy where telecommunications dominate
4. Architecture - expression of art not for function - +greater use of heritage
5. Ethnic diversity - highly fragmented culturally - can be solar polarisation in some cases
6. Public and private sectors work together with services provided by market

Question 15

London as a postmodern city

Answer 15

• ethnically diverse
• skyscraper motif
• south embankment is post-modern space
• e.g TUAM building in Camden Locks

Question 16

Cultural diversity

Answer 16

Existence of a variety of cultural/ethnic groups within a society

Question 17

Diaspora

Answer 17

Group of people with similar heritage/homeland settled not at home

Question 18

Urban heat island

Answer 18

Urban areas are warmer than rural surroundings

Question 19

Venturi effect

Answer 19

The effect of squeezing the airflow, usually increases as buildings get taller

Question 20

Albedo

Answer 20

The reflectivity of a surface

Question 21

What are the two types of air pollution

Answer 21

1. Particulate - release of particles and noxious gases into the atmosphere
2. Photochemical - creates smog

Question 22

London’s Pea Souper

Answer 22

• 12,000 people died
• soot from chimney and exhausts creates smog
• power stations near city centres - more pollution
• cheap coal has high amounts of sulphur
• 1956 Clean Air Act Introduced

Question 23

What are suds

Answer 23

Sequences of water management practices designed to drain surface water in a sustainable way

Question 24

Types of suds

Answer 24

1. Swales - wide, shallow drainage channels e.g grass ditches
   - provide temporary storage
   - facilitate filtration or pollutants (if vegetation)
2. Permeable pavements/roads - use of porous block paving and concrete
   - water can infiltrate subsoil or be stored underground
3. Infiltration trenches - gravel filled drains/reservoirs
   - excess solids removed by stones
   - stormwater run-off direction here
4. Wetlands - acts as holding ponds for water storage
   - can hold variations of water
   - algae and plants filter + biodiversity increases

Question 25

Sustainable development

Answer 25

Meetings the needs of the present without affecting needs of future generations

Question 26

Liveability

Answer 26

The characteristics of s city which improve quality of life for residents