Human: Contemporary Urban Environments Flashcards
What is urbanisation?
The increasing proportion of people that live in towns and cities.
Why is urbanisation important?
- Their economic pull due to high GDP
- High population equals high dependency on rural areas
- Promote movement of goods and services
- Hubs for culture and diversity
- Exchange of ideas and information in science and business parks
- Political influence and seats of governance
What is the biggest megacity and what is it’s population?
Tokyo with a population of 39 million
What are the characteristics of immature megacities?
- Rapidly growing uncontrollably
- Fed by rural to urban migration
- Infrastructure can’t keep up with growth
- Major health and housing issues
- E.g. Lagos (70% in slums)
What are the characteristics of consolidating megacities?
- Slower rate of growth
- Basic services
- Self-help schemes important
- High level of informal sector economy
- E.g. Mumbai (55% in slums)
What are the characteristics of maturing megacities?
- More developed formal economy
- Growth rate slowing even further
- Majority live in well-built homes
- Advanced, transport, education and waste disposal
- E.g. São Paulo (30% in slums)
What are the characteristics of established megacities?
- Stable with effective governance
- Engaged in regeneration and sustainability projects
- Many work in professional service jobs
- Quality of life is high
- E.g. London (0% in slums)
What are the pros of megacities?
- Can generate 2-3 times more GDP than some countries
- Less damaging to the environment as people are in a dense area
- Better access to services improving the lives of the poor and women.
- Access to a larger, more diverse employment sector.
- Centres of innovation to provide solutions to global issues.
What are the top 3 world cities?
London, New York and Tokyo.
What are the characteristics of world cities?
- Global links to rest of world
- Business headquarters located here
- Places of innovation
- Iconic and varied architecture
- Cultural centres
- Wide range of jobs
Why are world cities important?
- Central to global economy with financial institutions and influential stock exchanges
- Culturally significant as have huge diversity
- Have considerable political influence as many embassies here
- Crucial for transport
What are the cons of megacities?
- Feel pressures of migration, globalisation, social inequality and environmental issues most
- Many live on land vulnerable to disasters and disease
- If infrastructure doesn’t keep up with growth can be susceptible to crime and pollution
- Congestion and pollution
- Social polarisation
What is suburbanisation?
The movement of people from living in the inner city to the outer edges (rural urban fringe).
What is the history of suburbanisation?
During WW1, African Americans moved to N American cities for work.
Led to white families moving out (white flight)
UK followed this trend in the 1950s
What is the UK’s timeline of suburbanisation?
1930s- few planning controls, urban growth along main roads , growth between ribbons, green belts introduced.
1950s- better planned and more controlled expansions, council housing on rural-urban fringe
Recent- new private housing estates built and are highly sought after due to better transport links
What are the positives of suburbanisation on the inner city?
- Less congestion
- Less pollution
- Less pressure on services
What are the positives of suburbanisation on the rural-urban fringe?
- Better community
- Better transport
- Development of services and entertainment
- Development of edge cities
What are the negatives of suburbanisation on the rural-urban fringe?
- Increased pollution
- House prices increase
- Green space, biodiversity and habitats loss
- Social segregation
What are the negatives of suburbanisation on the inner city?
- Losing higher-skilled workers
- Disposable income not spent here
- Less council tax causing urban decay
- Social segregation
What are the consequences of counter-urbanisation?
- Rural house prices increase
- Locals resent new residents
- Local services (E.g. pubs and restaurants) can thrive
- Local shops may decline (E.g. post office)
- Loss of community spirit
- More traffic and accidents
Where is Linby?
Linby is a small village to the north of Nottingham, close to the town of Hucknell. It is also located close to the M1, proving easy transport routes into the city centre.
What is planned in Linby?
- 805 new homes
- Primary school
- Healthcare centre
- Shopping facilities
- Park and ride
- Tram extension
What are the arguments against the development of Linby?
- Views of Papplewick Hall and Linby Church would be lost
- Nearby roads may become congested
- Flooding problems
- New pressures on schools, doctors and police
What is deindustrialisation?
The decline in the importance of industrial activity for a place.
The falling % of people working in industry or the decline of the contribution of manufacturing to the GDP.
What is global shift?
TNCs moving their production to low cost nations.
This is due to cheaper labour rates and less strict rules on waste disposal.
What are 3 cities affected by global shift and what are their key facts?
Liverpool- 200,000 jobs lost in 4 years due to 2000 businesses closing
Manchester- lost 50,000 full time jobs
Cardiff- was 2nd largest coal-exporting port but is no longer
What are the pros of deindustrialisation?
- More people earning high salaries in office management roles
- Fewer polluting industries and lower carbon emissions
- Improved working opportunities for women
- Less unhealthy and dangerous conditions
What are the cons of deindustrialisation?
- CO2 emissions haven’t been reduced- just offshored
- Loss of sense of place for communities
- Long-term unemployment for older factory workers
- Social problems persist in inner-city deprived areas
Why does urban decline follow deindustrialisation?
- Causes unemployment so less disposable income (businesses decline, housing maintenance declines, people turn to crime)
- Buildings often sit empty and become dilapidated
What is urban form?
The physical characteristics that make up a city or urban area. Includes the shape, size, density and configuration of settlements.
What is the Burgess Model?
Circular structure:
- CBD
- Factories
- Low quality housing
- Medium quality housing
- High quality housing
What does the Bid-Rent Theory show?
Shows how the prices change as distance from centre increases.
Dictates how the city forms.
What is The Peak Land Value Intersection show?
The 1980s out-of-town shopping centres caused secondary land value peaks.
Caused by increased traffic and lack of space so retailers looked elsewhere.
What is a PMWC?
An urban area associated with changes in urban form and architectural design, reflecting the changed social and economic conditions of the late 20th century in some western cities.
What are the characteristics associated with PMWCs?
- Fragmentation
- Globalisation
- Simulation
- Fortification
- Beautification
- Information Technology
- Gentrification
- Decentralisation
- Privatisation
What is fragmentation?
More ethnically diverse but cultural differences and segregation are more common.
What is gobalisation?
Shops, services and businesses are global rather than local. The increased connectivity will lead to more global chains (E.g. McDonalds, Apple)
What is simulation?
Architecture becomes an expression of art in PMWCs and so buildings often simulate heritage.
What is fortification?
Security is a key concern in PMWCs so fortress landscapes are often common. E.g. gated communities, extensive CCTV and armed security units.
What is beautification?
Architecture is more an expression of art than function in PMWCs with varied, decorative ornamentation, often linked to heritage.
What is information technology?
PMWCs are dominated by the service and knowledge economies. Global companies often located here. Digital technologies provide 1.56 million jobs.
What is gentrification?
The process in which older, urban zones are rediscovered and renovated by individuals who move back into the inner city from the suburbs. In London, Elephant and Castle and Battersea Power Station are examples.
What is decentralisation?
Edge cities are commonly associated with PMWCs. It was a term first used in N America for cities like Los Angeles.
It involves cities forming where suburbs have developed and are often self-contained.
What is privatisation?
Cities becoming more privately owned- can be public space, streets, squares or shopping centres.
What are reasons for gentrification?
- The rent gap- price of property has fallen below it’s real value. Attractive to developers
- Commuting costs
- Support of government and council- both are keen for areas to improve
- Changing composition of households- less extended families living together
What are the benefits of gentrification?
Rise in general level of wealth.
More range of services.
Increased tax income.
Environmental quality improved.
Greater employment opportunities.
