Urban Environments Flashcards
Urbanisation
When the percentage of the population living in urban areas in a country increases.
Urban growth
When the overall number of people living in urban areas increases.
Urban expansion (urban sprawl)
When the size of one town or city increases.
Push factors
Reasons for people leaving an area. e.g food shortages, land shortages, poor infrastructure, crime, drought, natural hazards,
Pull factors
Reasons for people going to an area. e.g employment, better education and infrastructure, less crime.
Rural to urban migration
People moving from a rural area to an urban area.
Flow chart for the causes of urban growth
1) Young people migrate to cities
2) Big cities tend to have better universities.
3) Jobs for uni graduates tend to pay more
4) Young people stay living in the city after uni in their 20s
5) People in their 20s are at a fertile age and have children
6) So the birth rate in cities is higher than rural areas.
Effects of urban sprawl
-Increased traffic and pollution
-Decreased biodiversity
-Loss of farmland
-Increased flood risk
-Decline in the CBD
Millionaire City
A city with at least one million people
Mega city
A city with at least 10 million people
Meta city
A city with 20 million people
Conurbation
A large settlement when nearby towns or cities spread out and merge together
World city
A city which has a great influence on a global scale because a financial status. The main 3 are New York, London, and Tokyo.
What makes a city a world city?
Political hub
Landmarks
Economic/ business hub
Technology
Education
5 Levels of world cities
Alpha ++ e.g London
Alpha + e.g Dubai
Alpha and Alpha - e.g Madrid
Beta e.g Cairo
Gamma e.g Bristol
Why is London a world city?
- Capital city
- Leading financial centre
- Largest airport in the world
- Diverse population (over 300 languages spoken)
- Landmarks
Suburbanisation
When people move to the edges of a city
Examples of London Suburbs
Twickenham
Wimbledon
Ealing
Positives of suburbanisation
-Increase opportunity to create parks and open spaces
-More spacious housing
-Less need for high density housing
-Council gets more tax
-Increase in offices, shops and business parks at the edge of town
-Increase in golf clubs and gyms
-People can work from home and not need to live in city centre.
Negatives of Suburbanisation
-Decline of inner city shops and businesses
-The city increases in size and builds on greenfield land
-Increases commuting by car
-Greater divide cultures and lower income groups in the community
-Buildings in the inner city are left vacant
-The areas can look similar and lack diversity.
Counter-Urbanisation
When people move from a large town or city to a small town or village.
Reasons for counter urbanisation
- Safer environment for children - less crime / traffic
- Cleaner air due to less traffic p
- Less crowded schools meaning better education
- More Leisure activities, walking etc
- More space allowing for bigger and cheaper housing
Modifications in counter urbanised village
When houses have extensions or improvements
Accretions in counter urbanised villages
The areas of a village that have grown gradually over time