Urbanisation

Question 1

Define urbanisation

Answer 1

When the percentage of population living in urban areas increases in a country

Question 2

Define urban growth

Answer 2

When the overall number of people living in an urban area increases

Question 3

Define urban expansion / urban sprawl

Answer 3

When the size (per square km) of a town or city increases

Question 4

What are the stages of urban growth?

Answer 4

1) young people migrate to cities
2) big cities tend to have better universities
3) jobs for uni graduates tend to have better pay
4) people stay on
5) people have children
6) so birth rates are higher in the city than in more rural areas

Question 5

What changes have occurred that have lead to higher urbanisation rates?

Answer 5

• increase infrastructure: pollution, traffic
• greenfield land being built on: urban sprawl
• more people commute to CBD: emissions
• loss of farmland: loses biodiversity and farming jobs
• more impermeable surfaces: flash flood
• decentralisation: declining CBD sales and income

Question 6

What are the levels of city as the size increases?

Answer 6

• millionaire city (excess of 1 million)
• megacity (excess of 10 million)
• megacity (excess of 20 million)
• world city (a city with great global influence due to financial status)

Question 7

What is the order of settlement, based on magnitude?

Answer 7

• isolated dwelling
• hamlet
• village
• small town
• large town
• city
• concurbation

Question 8

What are the factors that make a world city?

Answer 8

• transport and trading
• media (LA: Hollywood)
• technology (SF: Google, Apple)
• education (Oxbridge)
• landmarks and history
• major industry and enterprise
• governments (NY: head office of the UN)

Question 9

What are the ratings of city?

Answer 9

• alpha ++ (London)
• alpha + (Dubai)
• alpha/alpha - (Madrid)
• beta (Cairo)
• gamma (Stratford-Upon-Avon)

Question 10

Define suburbanisation

Answer 10

When people move to the edge of a city

Question 11

What are the positives and negatives of suburbanisation?

Answer 11

• positives
  -> people can work from home
  -> increase in golf clubs and gyms
  -> increased opportunity to create urban space
  -> housing more spacious
  -> low density
  -> more tax for councils
  -> increase in shops / offices at edge of town
• negatives
  -> buildings in inner city are vacant
  -> areas look similar and lack diversity
  -> decline in inner city shops / businesses
  -> urban sprawl
  -> increase in commuters
  -> greater divide between cultures and income groups

Question 12

Define counter urbanisation

Answer 12

When people move from a large town or city to a small town or village

Question 13

What are the elements of a counter-urbanised village?

Answer 13

• modifications: extensions and improvement
• accretions: the areas of a village that have grown gradually over time
• adjuncts: newer parts of the village added to the original core
• isolates: individual housing apart from the main village
• ribbon developments: a line of housing extending out of a village along the main road
• in-fills: when there is a gap between houses, 1 or two are built in between

Question 14

Define urban resurgence

Answer 14

The regeneration (improvement) of an urban area, especially after they had declined in the 70s and 80s

Question 15

What are some of the things being done to help with urban resurgence in the CBD?

Answer 15

• pedestrianised streets
• restoration of historical buildings and landmarks
• indoor shopping centres
• street lighting
• street furniture
• trees / flowers
• weekly markets / festivals