urban issues and challanges Flashcards
1
Q
what is urbanisation?
A
The process in which more people are living in towns and cities
2
Q
Describe and explain the way that urbanisation rates vary around the world
A
- rates of urbanisation are UNEQUAL around the world
- rates are highest in LICs (which have high levels of rural-urban migration and high natural increase
-rates are lowest in HICs - many live in cities and have a lower natural increase
-rates in NEEs are slower than in LICs as their urbanisation happened earlier
3
Q
Define the term ‘megacity.’
A
a city with a population of over 10 million
4
Q
what are the two main reasons for urbanisation?
A
natural increase and migration
5
Q
Define the term ‘natural increase.’
A
Where the birth rate is higher than the death rate
6
Q
What is meant by the term rural-urban migration?’
A
Where people move from the countryside to the cities
7
Q
What is meant by push and pull factors in terms of rural-urban migration?
A
Push factors are reasons why someone leaves the countryside
Pull factor why someone wants to move to the city
8
Q
give 2 examples of a pull factor
A
- more jobs/higher paid jobs
-better healthcare and education
-more facilities
9
Q
give 2 push factors
A
- poor soil, meaning farming is hard
- lack of jobs
- lack of opportunities
-poor access to education and healthcare
10
Q
Describe the location of Lagos
A
west coast of Africa in Nigeria
11
Q
Describe the location of Lagos in Nigeria
A
- coastal city
- SW of Nigeria
- next to the Gulf of Guinea
- Close to the border within Benin
12
Q
give 2 facts about the regional importance of Lagos
A
- home to 10% of Nigeria’s population
- history of economic growth - generates the highest money earned of all states in Nigeria
13
Q
give 2 factors about Lagos’ national importance
A
- nigeria’s centre of trade
- 80% of Nigeria’s industry is based in Lagos
- Lagos generate about 30% of Nigeria’s GDP
14
Q
what are the reasons for rapid growth of population in Lagos?
A
- high natural increases
- high amount of rural-urban migration
15
Q
Give some pull factors for people moving to Lagos
A
- more jobs available than anywhere else in Nigeria
- health care whilst not free is available
- better education opportunities
- can find jobs in informal if not formal sector
16
Q
Give some push factors for people moving to Lagos
A
- poor education/health in rural areas
- farming - har for low wages
-land in Niger delta polluted by oil industry - political unrest in the North (Boko Harem)
17
Q
What social opportunities have led to development in Lagos?
A
- Healthcare - more readily available - helped to increase life expectancy
- Education - better opportunities available - led to increase in expected years of schooling and those educated are more likely to find work
18
Q
How have economic opportunities in Lagos resulted in development?
A
- Lagos has more jobs than anywhere in Nigeria (in formal and informal sector) - has helped increase GNI per capita
- Major industrial centre because of coastal location for shipping, international airport etc. attracting businesses
19
Q
Name some problems associated with urban growth in Lagos?
A
- Unemployment
- Crime
- Air pollution
- Water pollution
- Waste pollution
- Traffic congestion
20
Q
Describe how the problem of traffic congestion is being tackled in Lagos?
A
- Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system - separate lane for busses to reduce travel time (although not enough)
- constructing Rail Mass Transit system
- plans for new waterway network of ferries
21
Q
Describe how the problem of crime is being tackled in Lagos?
A
- the city has bought 3 helicopters to help spot criminal activity
- community police is being used
- a DNA forensic lab has been established
22
Q
Describe how the problem of air pollution is being tackled in Lagos?
A
- in Dec 2016 the city pledged to stop importing dirty fuel
- move to improve public transport (not much success to date)
- banned import of miniature generators
23
Q
Name and locate an example of urban planning in Lagos
A
Makoko Slum - “neighbourhood Hotsports” and “floating communities project”
24
Q
Name some challenges of living in squatter settlements
A
- homes are built from basic materials - e.g. wood/metal sheets - many built of stilt over the lagoon
- many house lack basic facilities/saniation
- malaria and malnutrition - major problem - infant mortality rates are high
- disease spreads quickly - people living closely together
25
What are ‘neighbourhood hotspots’ and how have they improved the quality of life in makoko?
-Shared facilities which provide a place for people to gather and learn and improve education
- They improve quality of life by:
+ Providing source of energy (multi-purpose biogas plant fed by organic waste and run by sunlight)
+ Better access to water and sanitation (improving health) - have simple water harvesting and water filter systems
+ Locals employed to help improve local infrastructure - salary enables them to help transform the community
26
What is the location of Birmingham?
Located centrally within the uk, Central Park of the West Midlands
27
What is the importance of Birmingham within the UK
• Direct rail links to many UK cities. Used by over 34 million people in 2014.
• New Street station is the busiest UK station outside of London.
• Birmingham is one of the ‘greenest’ UK cities. It has over 8,000 acres of parks and open space.
• Excellent job opportunities, including 200 law firms, 50 major property services and a range of other major companies such as Atkins, BBC and Jaguar Landrover.
• Birmingham Hippodrome is the busiest theatre in the UK with over 520,000 visitors each year.
28
What is Birmingham’s important internationally
• The European Cities Monitor rated Birmingham among the top 15 best cities in Europe in 2009.
• £13 billion invested in infrastructure. development over the next decade. The aim is to be a city of global importance.
• Birmingham Airport had over 9 million customers in 2014. It has been extended to connect to more places in Africa, South America, China and the USA.
• Provides space to more than 300 companies from outside of the UK
29
What are some social and economic opportunities in Birmingham?
- 5 unis and over 500,000 students, Birmingham has one of the youngest population in Europe
- largest number of businesses outside of London, offers a wide range of job opportunities
- over 28,000 job vacancies in Birmingham listed on major websites
- excellent transport links- New Street Station, Birmingham Airport and M5 M6 M40 M42
- Birmingham Hippodrome - most visited theatre in the UK
30
What is East Side City part an example of
Urban Greening - Environmental Opportunities
31
What are the aims of Birmingham’s Green Vision?
Make the city more attractive, encourage business, and improve health
32
So far what has Birmingham’s Green Vision included
• The opening of Eastside City Park, a new six acre park, in 2013.
• Creating blue corridors alongside rivers and canals (for example, as part of the
Longbridge redevelopment scheme).
• Encouraging walking and cycling. This is supported by organisations such as Network
West Midlands who provide detailed walking and cycling information for the city
• Developing green roofs and walls to increase biodiversity, reduce the amount of heat
absorbed, and to minimise water run-off.
33
So far what has Birmingham’s Green Vision included
• The opening of Eastside City Park, a new six acre park, in 2013.
• Creating blue corridors alongside rivers and canals (for example, as part of the
Longbridge redevelopment scheme).
• Encouraging walking and cycling. This is supported by organisations such as Network
West Midlands who provide detailed walking and cycling information for the city
• Developing green roofs and walls to increase biodiversity, reduce the amount of heat
absorbed, and to minimise water run-off.
34
What is urban deprivation?
Where an area has a quality of life below the acceptable standards
35
What are some social and economic challenges?
- urban deprivation -Birmingham is measured as the 6th most deprived area in the country (spiral of decline has happened)
- inequality in housing - deprived areas have poorer quality of housing (around 10,000 people in Birmingham are now homeless)
- inequalities in education, health and employment - smoking and drinking are more common in deprived areas
36
What are some environmental challenges in Birmingham
- derelict buildings
- not enough space for new houses
- building on greenfield sites contributes to urban sprawling and traffic congestion
- building on brownfield sites is expensive
- waste disposal is a challenge as population has increased
37
What is the rural-urban fringe?
- the area on the edge of an urban area
- often at risk of urban sprawling
38
What is the urban sprawl?
The expansion of urban areas into less populates areas
39
What are commuter settlements?
Towns around cities where people commute to the city for work
40
Define the term 'regeneration.'
improving the economic, social and environmental conditions of a previously run-down area
41
What have many areas in Birmingham suffered with
industrial decline
42
What is an example of the industrial decline in Birmingham?
Longbridge
-At its peak in 1965, over 25,000 people were employed there.
- From the 1970s, increased competition from abroad led to the decline in many industries in Birmingham, including car manufacturing.
-The manufacturing plant at Longbridge finally closed in 2005. The area became run down, and many people were unemployed. Therefore, Longbridge was in need of regeneration
43
Where in Birmingham are being regenerated?
- Longbridge
- Grand Central
- Paradise and Birmingham Curzon
44
what does the Longbridge Regeneration Plan aim to do
- regenerate the derelict Rover car plan by building over 2000 new homes and creating 1,000 jobs
45
What does the Longbridge Regeneration Plan include
- a technology park, including innovation suites for small technology businesses
- a £70 million new town centre with a range of major stores
- new hotels and leisure developments such as restaurants and cafes
- Bournville College, a £66 million learning facility
- a range of new office accommodation
- residential developments for a variety of age ranges
- large industrial and distribution centre buildings with easy access to the road network
46
What is another major regeneration project?
Grand Central
47
What does the grand central project include?
- a new large concourse
- better links to the surrounding area
- a nicer physical environment
- a range or new stores, including John Lewis which created 650 new jobs
48
What is meant by the term urban greening
Involves public landscaping and forest projects – e.g.
parks, living walls, green roofs etc.
49
