urban futures

Question 1

What is Urbanisation?

Answer 1

This is an increase in the amount of people living in urban areas such as towns or cities. In 2007, the UN announced that for the first time, more than 50 % of the world’s population live in urban areas.

Question 2

Consequences of Rapid Urbanisation in LIDCs

Answer 2

Social Consequences
* Little official housing available.
* Infrastructure struggles to support growing population.
* Increase in crime rates.

Environmental Consequences
* Rubbish may not be collected.
* Sewage and toxic waste pollutes river environments.
* Increased congestion produces more pollution.

Economic Consequences
* May not be enough jobs – increased unemployment.
* Informal sector increases Little access to education and
healthcare.

Question 3

Megacity

Answer 3

An urban area with over 10 million people living there.

Question 4

World City

Answer 4

Cities that are centres for trade and business. They hold
global influence.

Question 5

Lagos, Nigeria

Answer 5

Lagos is a port on the coast of Nigeria. Recently the city has experienced rapid population growth with 3.4 million extra people coming it home between 2000 and 2010.

Question 6

Effects of Urbanisation (Lagos)

Answer 6

Social
* Many live without electricity.
* High diseases rate and life expectancy low.
Economic
*High rate of corruption to officials.
* Business is limited due to poor infrastructure.
Environmental
* Large scale traffic issues.
* Slums such as Makoko are heavily polluted with poor
sanitation.

Question 7

Informal Housing

Answer 7

This is housing that is built on land which does not belong to those who are building it. This may be on land that is unsuitable due to its surroundings.

Question 8

Internal Growth

Answer 8

Internal growth occurs when urban areas experience rapid rates of population growth. This comes as a result of a large amount of arrival of people in cities, who after finding a job, house and partner will have children. This occurs mostly in LIDCs.

Question 9

Greenbelt Area

Answer 9

This is a zone of land surrounding a city where new building is strictly controlled to try to prevent cities growing too much and too fast.

Question 10

Conurbanisation

Answer 10

A conurbation is a region comprising a number of cities, large towns, and other urban areas that, through population growth have merged to form one continuous urban or industrially developed area.

Question 11

BIRMINGHAM Case Study (AC)

Answer 11

Birmingham is the UK’s second largest city after London and has population of about 1.1 million. The city grew during the Industrial Revolution. In recent years, manufacturing has declined the city has re-invented itself as a centre for shopping and culture.

Question 12

City’s Importance (Birmingham)

Answer 12

• Birmingham is a young, multicultural city.
• It is well connected to other parts of the UK by rail, road and air.
• Birmingham contains six independent universities.
• After London the most important financial centre in the UK.
• Has major transport links that connect effectively to the UK and the world.

Question 13

Migration to Birmingham

Answer 13

Birmingham’s population comes from all over the world, including people from Asia, the West Indies, Eastern Europe and elsewhere.
* It has one of the highest Pakistani communities in the world
* Ii has the largest Irish community in England.
* In 2011, only 53% of Birmingham’s population were white British.
* Migrants bring their own culture, language and religion making Birmingham diverse.

Question 14

Birmingham’s way of Life

Answer 14

The city benefits by the diversity and many different cultures.
* The population benefits from many companies and shops locating there.
* Birmingham has reinvented itself as a centre for culture through regeneration of the old Bullring shopping centre.
* The Bullring opened in 2003 as Europe’s largest city-centre, retail-les urban regeneration project.
* Good entrainment centres and night life.

Question 15

City Challenges (Birmingham)

Answer 15

There is a lack of affordable housing, especially for the young generation.
* There are high levels of inequality between the city centre in wards such as Sparkbrook and wards on the outskirts of Birmingham such as Sutton Four Oaks.
* Social inequality including deprivation and poverty is a problem.
* Some communities are being replaced by students (studentification) which then require different services.

Question 16

Urban Regeneration (Birmingham)

Answer 16

The city centre of Birmingham has been undergoing major development. This includes…
* A new high speed railway line (HS2) is considered to run between London and Birmingham.
* District Energy Schemes to make the city more energy efficient
* The construction of the Library of Birmingham – providing social and economic sustainability through job creation and environmental sustainability through green design techniques.

Question 17

ISTANBUL Case Study (EDC)

Answer 17

Istanbul has a unique location straddling Europe and Asia. It is the largest city in Turkey with a population over 15
million and is the fastest growing city in Europe.

Question 18

City’s Importance (Istanbul)

Answer 18

• It is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. It is the largest city in Turkey with 15 million people - but it is not the capital city.
• It is centrally located between Europe and Asia and is surrounded by the sea.
• It has an important history and was the centre of 3 major empires.
• It has a rich cultural history and is a top tourist destination.

Question 19

Migration to Istanbul

Answer 19

Most of Istanbul’s most dramatic growth has happened over the past 60 years or so. In 1950 it was a city of just under 1 million people. By 2015, it had grown to almost 15 million and is expected to reach 20 million by 2025. Most of Istanbul’s growth has been due to national migration from other parts of Turkey.
Istanbul is also growing as a tourist destination. Turkey is now among the world’s most popular tourism destinations.

Question 20

Istanbul’s way of Life

Answer 20

Istanbul’s growing population has led to the expansion of the city which now extends west to east for 100km.
* As the city expands, more and more people are now living in the inner and outer suburbs.
* Housing is a challenge in Istanbul which is leading to many old buildings being knocked down or regenerated to make way for
newer housing.
* The ‘Gecekondu’ (squatter settlements) are being replaced and updated.

Question 21

City Challenges (Istanbul)

Answer 21

Istanbul is one of the most congested cities in the world. At peak hours, the average traffic speed is as little as 8-10km/hour.
* Most commuters spend more than two hours a day in traffic.
* The Bosporus Strait (the stretch of water separating the European and Asian sides of the city) makes the roads especially busy as there are only 3 bridges linking both sides with some 425,000 vehicles crossing it every day.

Question 22

Sustainable Transport Networks (Istanbul)

Answer 22

The most sustainable solution to Istanbul’s traffic and congestion problem would be an integrated transport system where all forms of public transport linked together better.
* The Marmaray Rail Project links the the European and Asian sides of the city. This should help to take pressure off the already congested roads. Part of the railway is a tunnel that stretches underneath the Bosporus, again reducing pressure on the roads and speeding up travel times.