Contemporay Urban Environments Key Terms

Question 1

Urbanisation

Answer 1

An increase in the proportion of a country’s population living in a town or city.

Question 2

Counterurbanistaion

Answer 2

Population movement from larger urban areas to smaller urban settlements and rural areas.

Question 3

Suburbanisation

Answer 3

The decentralisation of people, employment and services towards the edges of an urban area.

Question 4

Urban resurgence

Answer 4

Regeneration in an economic and structural sense, of an urban area that has fallen into decline.

Question 5

Urban Growth

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Urban expansion

Answer 6

The increase in size or geographical footprint of a city.

Question 7

Megacity

Answer 7

A metropolitan area with a total population in excess of ten million people.

Question 8

World Cities

Answer 8

Cities which are seen to have an important role in the global economic system.

Question 9

De-industrialisation

Answer 9

Refers to the loss of jobs in the manufacturing sector.

Question 10

Decentralisation

Answer 10

When inner cities have lacked suitable land for expansion of existing companies so new investment moves to the edge of cities or rural areas.

Question 11

Urban policy

Answer 11

Strategies used by local or national government to develop urban areas and reduce urban issues.

Question 12

Urban form

Answer 12

Relates to the physical characteristics that go towards making up an urban area. Include: shape, size, density of population and configuration of the settlement.

Question 13

Land use zones

Answer 13

Each of the land use in urban areas is located in specific places for particular reasons.

Question 14

Gentrification

Answer 14

Individuals purchase and renovate run down property/industrial space to make it more valuable and appealing.

Question 15

Edge Cities

Answer 15

Self contained settlements which have emerged beyond the original city boundary and developed into cities in their own right.

Question 16

Fortress Landscapes

Answer 16

Landscapes designed for security, which can involve deliberate segregation of people to keep others safe.

Question 17

Cultural and Heritage Quarters

Answer 17

An area of a town/city where cultural production and consumption can be found.

Question 18

Town Centre Mixed Development

Answer 18

Development of town/city centres that involves mixed use of the area.

Question 19

Postmodernism

Answer 19

Describes changes to western cultures and societies in the late 20th century. Marked move away from uniform and conforming ’modern’ cities and a move towards different architectural styles.

Question 20

Poverty

Answer 20

An absolute term referring to a poor standard of living which doesn’t change over time.

Question 21

Inequality

Answer 21

Refers to the differences between people at a variety of scales. This is all relative and not absolute like poverty.

Question 22

Cultural Diversity

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Disphoria

Answer 23

A group of people with similar heritage or homeland who have settled elsewhere in the world.

Question 24

Economic Inequality

Answer 24

The difference between levels of living standards and income.

Question 25

Social Segregation

Answer 25

Groups of people living apart from the larger population for a variety of factors.

Question 26

Urban social exclusion

Answer 26

Economic and social problems faced by residents in areas of multiple deprivation.

Question 27

Particulate

Answer 27

The release of particles and noxious gases into the atmosphere (often from fossil fuel combustion).

Question 28

Photochemical

Answer 28

Creates smogs consisting of Ozone and peroxyacetly nitrate (PAN).

Question 29

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)

Answer 29

A sequence of water management practices and facilities designed to drain surface water in a manner that will provide a more sustainable approach that conventional practice of routing run-off through a pipe to a watercourse.

Question 30

Municipal Waste

Answer 30

Comes from municipal services and activities e.g. street cleaning.

Question 31

Municipal solid waste (MSW)

Answer 31

Includes solid domestic waste and commercial wastes.

Urban waste

Question 32

Sustainable Development

Answer 32

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 33

Liveability

Answer 33

The characteristics of a city, which improve the quality of life for the people living there.

Question 34

Sustainable city

Answer 34

A city, which provides employment, a high standard of living, a clean, healthy environment and fair governance for all its residents.

Question 35

Ecological Footprint

Answer 35

The total area of productive land and water required to produce the resources a population consumes and absorb the waste produced.

Question 36

Dereliction

Answer 36

Buildings that have become dilapidated after being abandoned.