Changing cities

Question 1

What is urbanisation?

Answer 1

• the growth in the proportion of a country’s population living in urban areas

Question 2

How has urbanisation changed over the last 50 years in developed countries?

Answer 2

• highest rates of urbanisation in developed countries happened during industrial revolution in 18th and 19th centuries - people moved to cities to work in factories
• since 1960s proportion of people living in urban areas increased very slowly - lots of people already live in urban areas - de-industrialisation in 1960s-1970s meant fewer jobs available in manufacturing industries - people moved away as city centres became run down - many people now prefer to live in rural areas - counter-urbanisation

Question 3

How has urbanisation changed over the last 50 years in emerging and developing countries?

Answer 3

• birth rates are high and death rates are falling - natural increase causing rate of urbanisation to increase rapidly
• combination of pull factors and push factors leading to high rates of urbanisation as - people leave the countryside in search of better jobs/higher standard of living
• pull factors - over last 50 years a lot of manufacturing moved to emerging countries - labour costs lower + less strict environmental, labour and planning laws - creating urban industrial areas with lots of manufacturing and service jobs
• push factors- many rural areas very poor + have limited access to resources - high population growth puts pressure on farmland making it less productive - increased mechanisation reduce number of jobs available

Question 4

Impacts of urbanisation on developed countries?

Answer 4

• housing- huge demand for houses - lack of space means house prices/rents very high - workers on lower incomes can’t afford to live near where they work - people can’t afford to buy homes
• overcrowding - high populations + shortage of housing can lead to overcrowding
• transport - urban areas often have good transport systems - high populations/increasing numbers of commuters can stress transport networks - roads frequently congested + overcrowding lead to delays on buses and trains
• services - cities provide some of the best education and health care - high populations can mean that access is difficult - especially for poorer people - waiting times for healthcare can be long + emergency vehicles can be delayed by traffic - schools may struggle with large class sizes + long waiting lists for best performing schools

Question 5

Economic consequences of urbanisation in developing and emerging countries?

Answer 5

• may not be enough jobs for everyone - high levels of unemployment
• lots of people work in informal sector - jobs aren’t taxed or regulated by the government - people often work long hours in dangerous conditions for little pay
• people many not have access to education - unable to develop skills needed to get better jobs

Question 6

Social consequences of urbanisation in developing and emerging countries?

Answer 6

• aren’t enough houses for everyone - many people end up in squatter settlements that are badly built and overcrowded
• infrastructure can’t be built fast enough - people often don’t have access to basic services - cause poor health
• can be high levels of crime

Question 7

Environmental consequences of urbanisation in developing and emerging countries?

Answer 7

• if cities grow rapidly - waste disposal services, sewage systems and environmental regulations for factories can’t keep pace with growth
• rubbish often not collected - may end up in big rubbish heaps - damages environment - especially if toxic
• sewage and toxic chemicals can get into rivers - harming wildflife
• road system may not be able to cope with lots of vehicles - congestion causes increased greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution

Question 8

Reasons for population distribuition in Upland regions?

Answer 8

• upland regions such as north of Scotland sparsely populated - difficult to farm - few natural resources

Question 9

Reasons for population distribuition in Coastal areas?

Answer 9

• many coasal areas have attracted human settlement - especially where there are sheltered bays and river estuaries suitable for building harbours - key ports have grown into major cities

Question 10

Where are most urban areas developed?

Answer 10

• most developed in lowland areas - easy to build on + have milder climate than upland areas

Question 11

How has mineral wealth affected population distribution?

Answer 11

• mineral wealth often leads to rapid population growth - where industries developed
• many of UK’s cities developed on major coalfields e.g Newcastle and Leeds

Question 12

Where in the UK is there slow growth and why?

Answer 12

• urban areas in north and west of UK are growing slowly - some have declining population like blackpool
• deindustralisation had greater negative impacts on cities in north and west - causing high job losses
• average wages lower - fewer employment opportuinites, e.g average weekly earnings in 2017 were £501 in Newcastle compared to £727 in London
• people move away to find work elsewhere - few people attracted there

Question 13

Where in the Uk is there fast growth and why?

Answer 13

• urban areas in south and east of UK are growing rapidly - two of fastest gorwing urban areas are Cambridge and Milton Keynes.
• growth of service and high-tech industries mostly benefited the south - as wealth increases - people have more money to spend on services - creating more jobs which attract workers
• around half of all international migrant move to London or south-east - increases rate of urbanisation there

Question 14

How does car sharing improve quality of life in Bristol?

Answer 14

• bristol has 2+ people lanes for cars - at certain times during morning and evening rush hour - only cars with 2 people can use these lanes - in many cases car shareres given priority parking
• leads to less congestion and lower pollution levels as there are less cars on the road

Question 15

How does cycling improve the quality of life in Bristol?

Answer 15

• bristol has many cycle routes - became the UK’s first cycling city in 2008 - government gave Bristol council 11.4m to create dedicated cycle lanes and better facilities
• less cars on road means less congestion and air pollution

Question 16

How does employment improve the quality of life in Bristol?

Answer 16

• unemployment rates only 8% in Bristol - one of lowest in country - partly due to work of council - actively attracting companies to the city
• provides higher quality jobs with higher incomes for families

Question 17

Top down strategies in Mumbai (Gorai Garbage Site Project)

Answer 17

1. The waste was reshaped into a gentle hill, covered in layers of lining material to prevent leaching, and planted with grasses to create a 19-hectare park.
2. This adds sustainability as it turns methane into electiricty and makes the rivers clean for fishing.
3. More electricity going around, clean rivers for fhishing boosts economy, appartments being built as it is nicer to liver there (more housing), less harmful gases being released.
4. Increased property price, expensive (4 million pounds)

Question 18

Top down strategies in Mumbai (Mumbai Monorail)

Answer 18

1. In 2005, Mumbai’s city government decided that a monorail would be a good solution to Mumbai’s public transport problems.
2. Less people are driving which reduces traffic congestion and air pollution.
3. Can be constructed over built-up areas without having to clear existing property.
4. Carries passengers quickly (40mph)
5. Doesn’t go through industrial areas, cost 310M

Question 19

Top down strategies in Mumbai (Slums)

Answer 19

1. 1.1 million new low cost apartments to move people into water suppies and sanitation services.
2. Better healthcare and education services
3. Less people in slums which reduces population density, improved health and education services means better quality of life.
4. However would affect Dharavai’s microbusiness as they wouldnt be able to continue tower blocks.

Question 20

Bottom up strategies in Mumbai (SPARC community toilets)

Answer 20

1. Sparc is an Indian NGO that works with communites in Mumbai to build new toilet blocks, connected to city sewers and water supplies.
2. Sparc adds sustainability by promoting resource recovery, conserving water and raising awareness about sanitation practices.
3. It is very cheap to use, 25 rupees, safer to use at night and well designed.
4. However it relies on funding, requires maintenance and has rescource constraints.