Urban environments - Glossary

Question 1

Counter urbanisation

Answer 1

The movement of population away from inner urban areas to a new town, a new estate, a commuter town or a village on the edge of just beyond the city limits/rural–urban fringe.

Question 2

Urbanisation

Answer 2

Urbanization is the increasing percentage/proportion of a country’s population living in towns and cities.

Question 3

Brownfield site

Answer 3

An abandoned, underused or derelict industrial site or plot of land that may be contaminated but has the potential to be redeveloped

Question 4

Re-urbanisation

Answer 4

Development of activities to increase population density of an existing urban area. This may be through development of business enterprises , refurbishing housing or building on vacant plots of land

Question 5

Gentrification

Answer 5

The process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of affluent of middle class residents into a deteriorating area, often displacing lower income residents

Question 6

Urban ecological footprint

Answer 6

Theoretical amount of land and water required to produce the resources consumed by a city and absorb its waste under prevailing technology

Question 7

Suburb

Answer 7

A residential area on the limits or just outside a city

Question 8

Suburbanisation

Answer 8

Outward growth of towns and cities to engulf surrounding rural areas. Often through movement of people from inner city areas to the city outskirts or through rural to urban migration

Question 9

Sustainable urban management strategy

Answer 9

An approach to urban management that seeks to maintain and improve the quality of life for current and future urban dwellers. Can be environmental, economic or social

Question 10

Urban sprawl

Answer 10

Unplanned and uncontrolled expansion of the urban area into the rural countryside

Question 11

Functional zoning

Answer 11

The development of distinct urban zones
which may be categorized as commercial, residential
or open space.