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