urban environments

Question 1

Urbanisation

Answer 1

A higher proportion of a countries population live in urban areas

Question 2

Suburbanisation

Answer 2

The outward spread of an urban area, often at lower densities compared with older parts of a city, in response to uncomfortable conditions associated with (rapid) urbanisation- e.g noise, pollution, high house prices

Question 3

Counter-urbanisation

Answer 3

The movement of people and employment from larger cities to smaller cities or rural areas

Question 4

Re-urbanisation

Answer 4

After counter-urbanisation, urbanisation happens again and the cycle repeats

Question 5

Trends of urbanisation

Answer 5

Urbanisation, suburbanisation, counter-urbanisation, re-urbanisation. More developed countries are more urbanised/ suburbanised.

Question 6

Factors affecting rate of urbanisation

Answer 6

Natural increase, rural-urban migration.
Push- isolation; lack of community; lack of education
Pull- availability of infrastructure and resources (food, water, roads, hospitals); better jobs; better healthcare
Economic growth

Question 7

Natural increase

Answer 7

As a country’s healthcare and contraceptive access increases (with development), death rate falls. This causes the birth rate to fall after, resulting in a higher birth rate than death rate. This increases a population, specifically if it is concentrated in an urban area it increases the urban population.

Question 8

Rural to Urban migration

Answer 8

Rural populations move to urban areas due to push and pull factors.

Question 9

Factors affecting rate of emergence of megacities

Answer 9

Economic development
Multiplier effect
Economies of scale
Population growth

Question 10

Economic development effect of megacities

Answer 10

Important manufacturing/servicing centres leads to attraction
Encourages population growth, increases desirability of goods and services

Question 11

Multiplier effect on megacities

Answer 11

As a city grows it acts as a beacon to people and businesses, encouraging investment, creating more development generating further highly skilled labour/jobs. This cycle repeats to have positive effects.

Question 12

Population growth effect on megacities

Answer 12

Young people drawn to cities for their vibrancy/opportunities.

Question 13

Economies of scale effect on megacities

Answer 13

It’s cheaper to provide goods/services in one place than to spread them out.
Financial savings for local governments due to infrastructure provisions.
Communication and transport are centralised, saving time and money.

Question 14

Rapid urbanisation: congestion/housing

Answer 14

Lack of housing/infrastructure.
Migrants arrive with little money, leads to informal housing (unsafe, poor living conditions and unregulated). Hostility from government or developers, harshly regulated or left alone.
Housing is expensive and limited, so many families share rooms, giving landlords opportune ties to set high rent and bad conditions.
Inner city housing most desirable and expensive due to poor transport links.
Lack of running water and sanitation.
Prevalence of disease.
Lack of electricity leads to wood burning and stealing from neighbours- both dangerous.

Question 15

Rapid urbanisation: transport

Answer 15

Lack of infrastructure (roads, police) lead to cramped/ dangerous roads and more accidents.
Public transport poor in quality, size and reliability.
Urban congestion varies with time of the week/day.
High congestion leads to air pollution- harmful for lungs.

Question 16

Rapid urbanisation: crime

Answer 16

Concentrated in areas of high population densities, due to large scale unemployment.
Poorer areas experience gang threats and youth violence.

Question 17

Rapid urbanisation: employment

Answer 17

Many people struggle to find jobs, leads to informal economy and unemployment.
Informal economy unregulated and dangerous.
Factories that do have jobs are too far away from shanty towns.
Exploitation from big companies.

Question 18

Rapid urbanisation: environmental issues

Answer 18

Disposal of waste is a big issue, rubbish dumps usually just out of city limits.
Defecation in rivers spreads diseases.
Air pollution from traffic, water pollution from excess waste.
Water shortages/ poor water quality.
Noise, light and visual pollution (graffiti).

Question 19

4 types of urban land use

Answer 19

• residential
• industry
• transport
• leisure

Question 20

4 types of land use from inner city to outer city

Answer 20

central core (CBD)
inner city
suburban zone
rural-urban fringe

Question 21

CBD

Answer 21

oldest part of a city, low residential population but high concentration of businesses, multi-storey development due to lack of space, high land value
contains banks and shopping centres

Question 22

inner city

Answer 22

older, compact, terraced worker/student housing to uphold high population density. surrounded by older industrial areas

Question 23

suburban zone

Answer 23

segregated residential zones based on wealth, ethnicity, gov. policy. smaller retail promises. semi and detached housing
parking, schools, housing

Question 24

rural-urban fringe

Answer 24

housing in estates, high spot density, countryside eroded through urban sprawl. some industrial uses and best accessibility.
business parks, airports, shopping centres, golf courses, industrial estates
accessibility to cities, cheaper land prices, less pollution, lots of space

Question 25

how do locational needs influence urban land use patterns

Answer 25

businesses will pay extra money for sites with good accessibility and locational needs (e.g., shops need to be on high street, factories need good links to main roads)

Question 26

how does value of the land influence urban land use patterns

Answer 26

CBD has highest value land, so chain shops can afford to buy that land factories can afford to buy cheap land on brownfield sites because they dont need to have an attractive location

Question 27

social sustainability

Answer 27

the need for economic and environmental factors to be managed This is to ensure that people can have a better quality of life The challenge is for towns and cities to reduce their ecological footprint whilst also tackling social inequalities

Question 28

strategies for social sustainability

Answer 28

- reducing reliance on fossil fuels - using energy efficient goods in public buildings - using public transport - providing green spaces for families - recycling water - conserving cultural/historical buildings - using Greenfield instead of brownfield sites - involving local communities and providing employment

Question 29

social inclusion

Answer 29

can be done through urban agriculture boosts the economy and allows isolated women (usually migrants) to create a community

Question 30

economic sustainability

Answer 30

aims to improve the economy without detrimentally affecting the environment or social climate normally through reducing carbon footprint

Question 31

environmental sustainability

Answer 31

Urban environmental sustainability is looking at the whole of the city, from food to energy to waste management to green spaces and transport and infrastructure Cities can invest in public transport, not only does it improve the efficiency and safety of buses and trains, but also reduces pollution and congestion

Question 32

role of planners in managing urban challenges

Answer 32

Local planners and politicians who want change will help with any obstacles or opposition to regeneration/renewal Property developers are crucial to the design and funding of any project Urban planner's vision will impact the squatter settlements will try to design wide roads, bike paths, lots of bins, access to water and light

Question 33

role of politicians in managing urban challenges

Answer 33

Local planners and politicians who want change will help with any obstacles or opposition to regeneration/renewal City councils will have the most influence on choice and resource management locally Governments have a ‘cost’ consideration There is not an endless pot of cash, especially in emerging cities There is also a political ‘game' (what will gain the most votes)? There are numerous policy decisions to be made and prioritised Corruption can be an issue, with funding not always going where it should, particularly with some governments whose track record is a little dubious

Question 34

role of property owners in managing urban challenges

Answer 34

Property developers are crucial to the design and funding of any project Landowners and developers will be keen to have sites away from the squatter settlements or to redevelop areas

Question 35

role of NGOs owners in managing urban challenges

Answer 35

International charities, e.g. OXFAM, Water Aid, CAFOD, MSF, Christian Aid, etc. help to improve basic amenities and infrastructure They also help to address food, education, health and employment issues IGOs, e.g. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the WHO fund projects aimed at helping the poor – vital sources of funding for projects

Question 36

level of involvement form different groups

Answer 36

The choice of management option will depend on local stakeholders National governments either support or oppose the choice International stakeholders may become involved once the decision has been made Charities/Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) will most likely help when management involves self-help or re-development

Question 37

management of slums

Answer 37

One challenge common to many urban areas is informal settlements (slums) There are five management options: Bulldoze and clear away Clear away but relocate people Redevelop Improve using self-help or site-and-service schemes (self-help gives tools/training and low-cost loans to help people help themselves, and S&S schemes provide a new or cleared site with basic services for people to buy at low cost, with low-cost loans to buy materials to make their homes) Ignore them

Question 38

informal economy

Answer 38

Megacities have rapidly growing populations Job creation cannot match the pace of growth As a result, unemployment and underemployment are not unusual People will often work on street corners doing informal work including: shining shoes giving haircuts taxing selling water or food These jobs are often unskilled and labour-intensive and require little money to set up The informal economy leaves cities without revenue to provide adequate services as workers pay no taxes It also makes wages and working conditions difficult to regulate

Question 39

cycle of poverty

Answer 39

Developing cities have high levels of inequality Many low-income families are 'pulled' to informal settlements around towns and cities looking for a sense of 'belonging' with others in the same situation For others without a strong social network or cities with recently arrived large populations, high levels of crime, begging and petty theft are more common Overall, this creates urban poverty that degrades both the physical and social environment around that area This makes it difficult for people to escape from poverty and they fall victim to the vicious 'cycle of poverty’ Urban poverty becomes ingrained within the city Combined with a lack of suitable work, housing, water supply, sewerage, solid waste disposal and pollution, the quality of life for people in emerging and developing cities is low

Question 40

urban challenges in Rio: low quality of life

Answer 40

- 10% have no access to clean water - 92% supplied by one water supply - 30% in favelas have no electricity - 50% have blackouts every week - majority of residents illegally tap into the national electricity grid, making it very unsafe

Question 41

urban challenges in Rio: urban pollution

Answer 41

- infrastructure cannot support number of commuters - roads seriously congested - rail services limited - private bus services main form of public transport - underground rail services efficient but have little stops - air pollution causes 500 deaths a year - urban sprawl causes more traffic - sewage in Guanabara bay damages marine life - 3.2 billion tonnes of waste a year - 18,000 litres of waste release into Guanabara bay per second

Question 42

urban challenges in Rio: informal economy

Answer 42

- high unemployment - this causes a rise in crime rates - gangs control the streets and there's a big problem with youth violence - lack of education - typical school days 3 hours due to lack of space - highest rate of non-attendance of schools in Brazil

Question 43

urban challenges in Rio: squatter settlements

Answer 43

- in the favelas, 50% dont have waste disposal means - over 20% of the population live in Favelas - they don't have proper access to resources or a high standard of living - Rochina is the largest favela, has only 2 schools and houses 100,000

Question 44

urban challenges in London: energy

Answer 44

- cost of living crisis, energy costs a lot of money - many have to chose between heat and food

Question 45

urban challenges in London: water and food security

Answer 45

- UK imports 45% of food - 9.5 million tonnes thrown away every year - London grows by 100,000 a year

Question 46

urban challenges in London: transport

Answer 46

- costs money - lack of connection across north and south divide - lots of pollution - standstill traffic

Question 47

urban challenges in London: waste disposal

Answer 47

- 99,000 metric tonnes of waste a year - landfills often used

Question 48

urban challenges in London: environmental

Answer 48

- sprawling cities displace animals from natural habitats - pollution from cars can cause lung issues and death - 4,000 deaths due to air pollution/year

Question 49

urban challenges in London: social

Answer 49

- avg price of £523,666 (double national avg) - commuter settlements - disparities in employment - brain drain due to deindustrialization, leads to low investor confidence

Question 50

urban challenges in London: segregation

Answer 50

- many areas suffer from urban decline - over 2 million live in poverty - housing inequality

Question 51

urban environment in Curitiba, Brazil: health

Answer 51

- everyone has access to clean drinking water - 90% have sewage systems - 28 parks and wooded areas - 40 feeding centres for homeless children - less disease - 100km cycle paths

Question 52

urban environment in Curitiba, Brazil: waste disposal

Answer 52

- recycles 2/3s of waste green swap program: - locals sort rubbish into organic and inorganic - in favelas this is traded for fruit and vegetables - this is sorted in a facility which gives jobs to recovering addicts - styrofoam is separated to stuff quilts for the poor - 70% participiate - library of recycled books for children

Question 53

urban environment in Curitiba, Brazil: employment

Answer 53

- jobs created by rubbish programme - food traded to poor brought from local farmers

Question 54

urban environment in Curitiba, Brazil: transport

Answer 54

- bi-articulated bus lanes carry 4,000 people a day: fast, cheap, used by 75%, lowers fuel consumption by 30%

Question 55

urban environment in Curitiba, Brazil: housing

Answer 55

- gov offers low interest loans on land and free house design to people living in shanty towns

Question 56

urban environment in Curitiba, Brazil: education

Answer 56

- lighthouses of knowledge provide access to books and internet - night police

Question 57

urban environment in London: health

Answer 57

- free NHS - ambulances

Question 58

urban environment in London: waste disposal

Answer 58

BedZed: - use solar panels - focused on sustainable living - properly insulated and everything is recyclable - London only recycle 25% - super sewers improve sewage movement - aiming for 65% recycling and 0% to landfills by 2030

Question 59

urban environment in London: employment

Answer 59

- high employment levels

Question 60

urban environment in London: transport

Answer 60

- public transport all around London - Zip cards - ULEZ and congestion charge - makes 200mn a year

Question 61

urban environment in London: housing

Answer 61

- redevelopment plans on brownfield sites - council housing - not a massive problem in suburbs - high house prices

Question 62

urban environment in London: education

Answer 62

- free schooling