Unit 2A Urban issues and challenges

Question 1

What is urbanisation

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Where is urbanisation taking place most rapidly

Answer 2

LICs as not many of the population in LICs currently live in urban areas

Question 3

Describe the trend in urbanisation in HICs

Answer 3

HICs have very slow rates of urban growth as many of the population already live in urban areas. People also now desire a better quality of life and are moving away from citites.

Question 4

Give three push factors that lead to rural urban migration

Answer 4

• Natural disasters can damage property and farmland
• Mechanisation of agricultural equipment means farms require fewer workers.
• Desertification can make land unproductive
• conflict can cause people to flee their homes

Question 5

Give one factor other than migration that causes urbanisation

Answer 5

Natural increase, when birth rate is higher than death rate

Question 6

What is a megacity

Answer 6

A city with over 10 million people

Question 7

Describe how industrialisation can lead to economic development

Answer 7

As industries develop more jobs and better wages are created. Industries sell the goods they produce on the international market. Manufactured goods make greater profits than unpocessed goods so industrialised countries get wealthier

Question 8

List the two environmental challenges caused by urban growth

Answer 8

• Rubbish often isn’t collected or may end up in big rubbish heaps which can damage the environment
• Air pollution comes from burning fuel, vehicle exhaust fumes and factories
• Sewage and toxic chemicals can get into rivers, heaming wildlife
• The road system may not be ale to cope with all the vehicles. Congestion causes increased greenhouse gases.

Question 9

Give a named example of an urban planning scheme in an LIC or NEE and explain how it has improved the quality of life for the urban poor

Answer 9

The Makoko floating school. The floating school has provided education and jobs (teaching, building and made from local materials) as an economic and social benefit. It is also very environmentally friendly as it has natural ventilation and uses solar energy.

Question 10

Using a case study of a city in an LIC or NEE describe the economic opportunities offered by urban growth as well as the social challenges

Answer 10

Lagos economic opportunities-Rapid growth creates many jobs in construction. Home to many of the country’s banks, government departments and manufacturing industries. Also two major ports and a fishing industry.
Lagos also has a thriving film and music industry.
Social challenges-Over 60% of the city’s population lives in slums. Houses are of poor quality with only one primary school. Communal toilets shared by 15 households and waste goes into the lagoon causing health problems. Poor access to water and electricity and high levels of crime.

Question 11

Describe the distribution of population in the UK

Answer 11

The population distribution in the UK is very uneven. Many major cities have developed into conurbations (towns that have merged to form continuous urban areas) which have the highest population density.

Question 12

Why are most cities in the UK found in lowland areas

Answer 12

Because they are easy to build on and have a milder climate than upland areas.

Question 13

Describe how you could identify the rural-urban fringe on a map

Answer 13

Look for white spaces showing fields mixed with more built up areas.

Question 14

Explain how urban change in the UK can lead to opportunities

Answer 14

Immigrant communities were attracted by low cost inner housing making Uk cities very multicultural. Redevelopment offers new investment. CBDs have been redeveloped with offices and entertainment facilities creating employment opportunities. Cities dealing with congestion problems and high numbers of commuters coming into CBD have developed innovative transport solutions. Importance of green space in cities is being recognised.

Question 15

Explain how urban change in the UK can lead to deprivation

Answer 15

Industrial decline in cities caused a decrease in wealth and left inner cities causing them to become deprived. Deprived areas are linked to poor access to services. High demand for housing means new estates sprawl onto greenfield sites. Rural-urban fringe is under pressure

Question 16

Give reasons why a regeneration scheme was needed in a named urban area and describe its main features

Answer 16

The East Village London was a very deprived area full of trash and had a dirty canal flowing through it. It was a brownfield site. After being regenerated it was made to have many parks for green spaces, trees planted so the rainwater goes to river Thames. The waterways were cleaned and many new facilities were built

Question 17

Explain how migration has influenced the character of a named UK city.

Answer 17

Migration has made London very multicultural creating communities such as Brick lane

Question 18

Describe economic opportunities that urban change has created in a named UK city

Answer 18

Immigrants could fill up low wage jobs allowing people in London to have higher paid jobs
Immigrants could also set up and start new businesses creating new jobs.
Employment in tourism and service sectors

Question 19

Describe two challenges that urban change has created in that city

Answer 19

The inner city of London was left deprived and regeneration is very expensive.
Pressure to build on greenfield sites due to the growth of the city
Waste disposal is becoming an increasing issue as the city’s population grows

Question 20

What is urban sprawl

Answer 20

The unplanned growth of urban areas into the surrounding countryside.

Question 21

Describe two ways that development is putting pressure on the rural urban fringe

Answer 21

• Large housing estates have been built on rural greenfield land damaging ecoystems
• Out of town developments take advantage of cheaper land outside the city and are easily accessible to lots of people.

Question 22

What is a commuter settlement

Answer 22

Commuter settlements are places in the rural-urban fringe where the majority of the population leaves the town each day to work elsewhere.

Question 23

Describe two possible negative impacts of a village becoming a commuter settlement

Answer 23

• New housing developments can affect the character of rural settlements and damage environment.
• Demand for houses increases house prices
• Businesses in commuter settlements may suffer as the majority of the population are absent a lot of the time
• Large numbers of commuters can increase pollution and cause traffic congestion and parking problems.