Contemporay Urban Environments Key Terms Flashcards
Urbanisation
An increase in the proportion of a country’s population living in a town or city.
Counterurbanistaion
Population movement from larger urban areas to smaller urban settlements and rural areas.
Suburbanisation
The decentralisation of people, employment and services towards the edges of an urban area.
Urban resurgence
Regeneration in an economic and structural sense, of an urban area that has fallen into decline.
Urban Growth
The increase in the total population of a town or city.
Urban expansion
The increase in size or geographical footprint of a city.
Megacity
A metropolitan area with a total population in excess of ten million people.
World Cities
Cities which are seen to have an important role in the global economic system.
De-industrialisation
Refers to the loss of jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Decentralisation
When inner cities have lacked suitable land for expansion of existing companies so new investment moves to the edge of cities or rural areas.
Urban policy
Strategies used by local or national government to develop urban areas and reduce urban issues.
Urban form
Relates to the physical characteristics that go towards making up an urban area. Include: shape, size, density of population and configuration of the settlement.
Land use zones
Each of the land use in urban areas is located in specific places for particular reasons.
Gentrification
Individuals purchase and renovate run down property/industrial space to make it more valuable and appealing.
Edge Cities
Self contained settlements which have emerged beyond the original city boundary and developed into cities in their own right.
Fortress Landscapes
Landscapes designed for security, which can involve deliberate segregation of people to keep others safe.
Cultural and Heritage Quarters
An area of a town/city where cultural production and consumption can be found.
Town Centre Mixed Development
Development of town/city centres that involves mixed use of the area.
Postmodernism
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.
Poverty
An absolute term referring to a poor standard of living which doesn’t change over time.
Inequality
Refers to the differences between people at a variety of scales. This is all relative and not absolute like poverty.
Cultural Diversity
Existence of a variety of cultural/ethnic groups within a society.
Disphoria
A group of people with similar heritage or homeland who have settled elsewhere in the world.
Economic Inequality
The difference between levels of living standards and income.
