Urban Environments Flashcards
urbanisation
the increasing proportion of people living in urban areas
trends in urbanisation between LICs and HICs
-emerging and developed countries have highest levels of urbanisation
-lowest levels of urbanisation in Africa and SE Asia
-urban population increasing proportionally faster than world’s population
when did the world’s urban population surpass 50% of th world’s population
2008
expected urban population in 2050 and 2100
66%% in 2050
75% in 2100
suburbanisation
-urban settlements grow towards the suburbs
causes of suburbanisation
-better transport links between suburbs and CBD
-CBD push factors(congestion, overcrowding, pollution)
-suburban pull factors(less pollution, greener, more space)
dormitory settlement
areas on the rural urban fringe where residents mainly sleep and then commute to the CBD for work(very quiet during the day)
counter urbanisation
-people leave the RUF and move out to rural areas.
-encourages decentralisation of activities away from the CBD
urban regeneration
-central urban areas that were decentralised and went into decline and are being redeveloped
-locals that remained there become prices out due to rising house prices there
factors affecting the rate of urbanisation
-rate of population growth
-high rates of rural-urban migration
-high rates of natural increase
-rate of economic development
-multiplier effect
rural dilution
when urban areas expand into more rural areas
millionaire city
city with more than 1 million people
megacity
city with more than 10 million people
global/world city
city with global significance e.g. culturally or financially
Example: Tokyo
factors affecing the emergence of megacities
-urban agglomerations due to people and economic activites concentrating at favourable locations
problems with rapid urbanisation
-Housing, high demand: slums form as housing becomes too expensive in urban areas
-Access to water and electricity: streams can be polluted with sewerage: some in LICs rely on fuelwood
-Congestion and Transport: overcrowded, air pollution
-Employment: many unable to find work once migrated to cities, end up in informal sectors
-high crime rates
urban challenges in developing countries
-squatter settlements
-informal economy
-urban pollution
-low quality of life
Cycle of poverty
-children into poor families
-hunger and malnutrition leads to stunted development
-becomes disadvantages in education and skills
-unable to find employment, financially unstable
-falls back into poverty and unable to escape the cycle
factors affecting urban land use patterns
-prices of land, increases towards the city centre so only some users can afford it
-historic reasons such as being next to a river
-transport routeways offers points of access so housing or industry can develop next to points of accessibility
how does land value affect urban land use patterns
-urban land markets sells to highest bidder, Retail normally makes the best use of land financially
bid rent theory
how the price and demand for real estate change as the distance from the central business district increases
peak land value intersection
land value is highest in CBD and declines outwards, with SLVI around major intersections with good transport links
how does locational needs affect urban land use patterns
certain businesses may accrete together due to making best use of similar infrastructure needed
3 land use models
-Burgess concentric model
-Hoyt sector model
-Waugh’s Latin America Model
greenfield site
land not previously used for urban development
brownfield site
land that has been previously use, abandoned and now awaits a new use
advantages of brownfield sites
-reduces the loss of countryside and land that might be put to agricultural or recreational use
-helps to revive old and disused urban areas
-services already in place
-located near to main areas of employment
disadvantages of brownfield sites
-often more expensive as old buildings have to be cleared and land made free of pollution
-often surrounded by rundown areas so does not appeal to more wealthy people as residential locations
-higher levels of pollution; less healthy
-may not have good access by road
advantages of greenfield sites
-relatively cheap and rates of house buildings are faster
-the layout is not hampered by previous development so can easily be made efficient and pleasant
-healthier environment
-proximity of countryside, leisure and recreation
disadvantages of greenfield sites
-valuable farmland, recreational space and attractive scenery lost
-development causes noise and light pollution in the surrounding countryside
-wildlife and their habitats lost
-encourages further suburban sprawl
top down vision Mumbai features
-want to build on land with slums, so they legally have to relocate the slum dwellers
-relocates slum dwellers to purpose built blocks leading to problems with seeing family and friends in the city
-residents have their own toilets, kitchens etc inside their homes
-still cramped spaces shared with other families. complexes have no shared communal spaces, which they had in the slums
bottom up SPARC NGO features
-works on sanitation and provided individual or community toilets in several states
-support communities to explore range of solutions which will improve the quality of their lives
-working to build housing across India that is affordable
SMILE FOUNDATION NGO features
smile on wheels project with mobile health clinics
urban challenges in LONDON
Transport and pollution: high NO@ levels due to congestion
Energy: not enough energy to keep homes warm due to high energy costs and low incomes
Food: lots of food in UK is imported, increasing costs for consumers due to border checks, leading to food insecurity
Waste: London’s ecological footprint is greater than its biocapacity, most food is not recycled
Segregation: big economic disparity, ethnic segregation and studentification
urban challenges in Mumbai
-Squatter settlements: basic services not provided, hazardous approach of building
-Pollution: major problem due to sewage disposal as many share one toilet
-informal economy: those in recycling industry work in hazardous conditions and fail to get formal recognition from the authorities, leading to low QOL
strategies to improve transport issues in London
Cycle super highways and bike sheds: encourages more people to cycle
-New Victoria underground line: new line through London adding more capacity, encouraging more people to take the underground
-Hydrogen cell buses: reduces air pollution
strategies to improve energy issues in London
-footfall harvesting: producing energy from pedestrians
-biofuels: some London taxi’s run on restaurant oil
strategies to improve food issues in London
-vertical farming and urban gardening: increases sustainability of food supply for cities
-food banks : give out food
strategies to improve waste issues in London
Waste Hierarchy: achieves zero waste to landfills in 2025
Circular city model instead of a linear model, where organic and inorganic waste is recycled
strategies to reduce segregation in London
-Become world’s first National Park City: improve life in London by making city greener, healthier, increasing QOL of residents
