Urbanisation Case Studies

Question 1

Urban System Growth

Answer 1

Addis Ababa.
- population expected to grow from 4.5 million to 10 million by 2040.
- increased car ownership leads to traffic congestion
- poor access to workplace due to lack of public transport.
- lack of traffic signals, road signs, etc.
- lack of dedicated bus lanes.
- high rate of accidents
- limited options for disabled and elderly
- water shortages, poor sanitation, lack of access to clean water sources.
- one WASH national program establishes a global model for integrated implementation of water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
- 2016 water pond constructed to collect water from rain
- municipality spends large proportion of budget on collection, transport and disposal of solid waste.
- local calls connected automatically
- 4G internet launched in Ethiopia.
- internet cafes around city center.

Question 2

Air pollution

Answer 2

Delhi.
- 30,000 people die prematurely because of air pollution, and 6 hours of life are lost each day for living in Delhi.
- links to severe birth defects.
- 1 in 4 babies born underweight.
- diesel vehicles, crop and waste burning, poorly regulated construction boom in the NCR, road dust, 80,000 trucks entering Delhi nightly.
- concentrated in Central, East, and South-East regions, particularly near industrial sites.
- poor are more exposed.
- workforce sick.
- environmental degradation is costly
- tourism industry suffers

Question 3

Traffic Scheme

Answer 3

Vitoria Gastiez.
- mid-size in Northern Spain
- period of urban growth and development after 1950, characterised by a strong pedestrian mobility culture. Threatened by rise of car and growth of the city making pedestrian mobility no longer competitive.
- natural belt of 6 parts (green belt)
- 15km of bike lane
- aims to redesign streets
- cycle programs
- bike garages distributed around the city
- superblock scheme - geographical space delimited by main streets covering several city blocks. hierarchy of streets according to volumes of traffic, new pedestrian areas etc.
- decreased tonnes of CO2 emission by 4% and reduce traffic flow

Question 4

Resilient / Eco City

Answer 4

Rio de Janeiro.
- Environmental and infrastructural risks such as heavy rain, leading to floods, strong winds damaging rooftops, power lines and trees, heat waves causing discomfort and health problems, and over consumption of electric energy, sea level rise, and drought.
- established a climate change panel, involving experts from various scientific fields to study trends.
- disaster recovery plan
- green, cool, safe and flexible urban spaces, LED steer lighting, revitalizing tree density.
- solar energy strategy.
- societal problems like high crime rates, traffic, poverty, social inequality.
- expands train and subway lines to improve road infrastructure and cut down on traffic congestion levele
- agency for promotion of a circular economy that sends less waste to land fills generates jobs and supports the efficiency of resources.
- self help schemes
- favella residents rights to own properties.
- expanding sewer system as a response to disease and poor sanitation

Question 5

Slum Clearance

Answer 5

Otodo Gbame

• Was an informal fishing settlement in Lagos, Nigeria.
• In October 2016, the Governor announced plans to demolish all waterfront communities in Lagos, and then later in November it was demolished. Over 30,000 residents were forcefully evicted and made homeless, and 11 people drowned.
• Those involved in initiating the clearance were the Lagos state authorities and police, who chased residents out of their homes with gunfire and tear gas. The attack was ordered by the Lagos government, although initially it denied any responsibility for the forced evictions.
• In March 2017, the government claimed that it’s actions were motivated by the need to protect environmental health.
• The State Ministry of Justice said that the government did it because they had reason to believe militants were hiding among the people in the Otodo Gbame and we’re prefecting plans to attack the Lekki and Victoria Island environs using the settlement as a base.

Question 6

Urban System Growth Due to transport

Answer 6

Brusswls
- Orbital road around the majority of Brussels which connects every district of the city.
- International airport, contributing to urban sprawl by supporting the growth of service industries and business parks as well as housing developments.
- The availability of water provides opportunities for tourism and a good fishing industry.

Question 7

Gentrification

Answer 7

Berlin
- Renovations to common spaces, including new elevators and balconies
- Buildings re-painted, updated and modernized to create better living conditions.
- Need stemmed from overheated rental market, making it very lucrative for landlords to try and push out long term tenants to charge new tenants with much higher rents.
- Better places to eat outside of people’s homes
- More diversity
- Rising rents
- Pollution
- Noise

Question 8

Deindustrialization

Answer 8

Michigan
- Mexican industrialisation. FDI investment was made possible by the lowering of trade barriers through NAFTA. Has ked to the displacement of American jobs to Mexico.
- People lose jobs.
- Low incomes and poverty
- Poor living conditions
- Crime

Question 9

Social deprivation

Answer 9

Rio
- Favela Bairro Project funded by the Inter American Development Bank. They first provided 180M, which the Rio government had to match with 120M.

In Complex do Alemao:
- Paved roads
- Access to water supply and drainage systems for improved sanitation
- Hillsides secured to prevent landslides
- New health, leisure and education facilities
- Installation of a cable car to the commercial centre
- Access to credit allowing inhabitants to buy materials to improve their home
- Pacifying Police Unit to reduce crime

Question 10

Smart City

Answer 10

Songdo, South Korea
- Pneumatic tubes send trash straight from homes to an underground waste facility, where it is sorted, recycled, or burned for energy generation.
- Apartments in which light and temperature can be adjusted via a central control panel or from a phone.
- Buildings with sensors that monitor energy use and traffic flow, all with an eye towards sustainability
- Water recycling facility
- Public transport system built in anticipation of a car free future. Bused link hubs like Triple Street to neighborhoods and university campuses. Subway connecting system to rail network. Venues placed within 15 minute walk from central park.