Geography Notes Option G: Urban Environments
IB Geography — Option G: Urban Environments
Definition:
Term Definition
Brownfield site Abandoned, derelict or under-used industrial buildings and land that may be
contaminated but have potential for redevelopment
Counter-urbanization The movement of population away from inner urban areas to a new town, a new estate,
a commuter town or a village on the edge or just beyond the city limits/rural-urban fringe.
Ecological footprint The theoretical measurement of the amount of land and water a population requires to
produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its waste under prevailing technology.
Re-urbanization The development of activities to increase residential population densities within the
existing built-up area of a city. This may include the redevelopment of vacant land, the
refurbishment of housing and the development of new business enterprises.
Suburb A residential area within or just outside the boundaries of a city.
Suburbanization The outward growth of towns and cities to engulf surround villages and rural areas. This
may result from the out-migration of population from the inner urban area to the suburbs
or from inward rural-urban movement.
Sustainable urban An approach to urban management that seeks to maintain and improve the quality of life
management strategy for current and future urban dwellers. Aspects of management may be social (housing
quality, crime), economic (jobs, income) or environmental (air, water, land, resources).
Urbanization An increasing percentage of a country’s population comes to live in towns and cities. It
may involve both rural-urban migration and natural increase.
Urban sprawl The unplanned and uncontrolled physical expansion of an urban area into the
surrounding countryside. It is closely linked to the process of suburbanization.
1. Urban population
Urbanization
Define urbanization and explain the variation in global growth rates and pattern.
- urbanization: an increasing % of a country’s population comes to live in towns and cities. It may involve both
rural-urban migration and natural increase.
- positive migratory balance + natural increase
- more in LEDCs
- European countries are experience de-urbanization
- Lagos (Nigeria) is experience over-urbanization: the volume of immigration far exceeds the provision of jobs
Inward movement
Explain the processes of centripetal movements (rural-urban migration, gentrification, re-urbanization/urban
renewal)
- centripetal movement: the migration of people into towns and cities
- rural-urban migration: rural push factors + urban pull factors
- gentrification: the reinvestment of capital into inner city areas (mostly the improvement of residential areas)
- re-urbanization/urban renewal: revitalization of urban areas and a movement of people back into these areas
Outward movement
Explain the processes of centrifugal movements (suburbanization, counter-urbanization, urban sprawl).
- centrifugal movement/decentralization: the outward movement of a population from the centre of a city towards
its edge or periphery, resulting in an expansion of the city
- suburbanization: the outward growth of town and cities to engulf surrounding villages and rural area
- e.g. out-migration of population from the inner urban areas to suburb or from inward rural-urban movement)
1
, Geography Notes Option G: Urban Environments
- counter-urbanization: movement of people from inner urban areas to areas beyond the city limits - urban fringe
- urban sprawl: the unplanned and uncontrolled physical expansion of an urban area into the surround
countryside
Natural change
Explain the contribution of natural change to patterns of population density within urban areas.
- migration + natural increase = higher population density=
The global megacity
Explain the global increase in the number and location of megacities (population over 10 million).
- before the top ranks were held only by rich megacities (Tokyo)
- now dominated by cities in LEDCs, e.g. Dhaka, Kolkata, Karachi, Lagos (third most populated city —> 25
million)
2. Urban land use
Residential areas
Explain the locations of residential areas in relation to wealth, ethnicity and family status (stage in life cycle).
- Social
- In any city, elderly people and families that prefer to live in residential areas that are far away from industry,
recreational facilities, and congestion (therefore, the central business district) according to the CBD model.
- Location of schools determine the the location of family residential areas; parents prefer to live closer to
schools so the commute for their children is shorter
- In some developing cities like Mexico City, residential areas can be located in gated communities to lower
likelihood of crime or influence from slums
- Employed people would like to live in areas closer to work to shorten commute, or live closer to areas that
have access to transport networks
- Economics
- According to the PLVI model/bid rent theory, the CBD is located in the inner city. In addition the PLVI shows
that residential areas are located in the outer city as inner city land is devoted for commercial use and
industry
- Gentrification: young and upwardly mobile move to residential cities nearer to the inner city for easier
accessibility to the CBD where they find employment
- In some developed cities, more financially able residents live in more suburban areas whereas less
financially able have no choice but to live closer to industry in inner city residential areas with slum like
conditions (example: caged homes in Hong Kong)
- In some poorer cities, poorer residents prefer to live in shanty towns and slums through urban sprawl on the
city limits (example: Dharovi in Mumbai or slums in Rio De Janeiro)
- Demographics
- Cities can be segregated into ethnic residential areas where same ethnic groups live closer together. An
example of this would be China Towns in the US ethnic segregation can also be legislated, an infamous
example being Apartheid in South Africa cities with a high aging population may be segregated by age
where elderly citizens live in city limits or in the suburbs (example being cities in Japan which has a high
aging population)
- Physical
- slums are usually built on hilly terrain that's unsuitable for residence as suitable terrain has been occupied by
the city limits residential areas are built further away from prisons, drainage/sewage facilities
Examine patterns of urban poverty and deprivation (such as slums, squatter settlements, areas of low-cost
housing and inner-city areas).
- MEDCs: inner-city areas or ghettos ; LEDCs: shanty towns
- measuring deprivation
- physical indicators: quality of housing, level of pollution, incidence of crime, vandalism, graffiti
2
IB Geography — Option G: Urban Environments
Definition:
Term Definition
Brownfield site Abandoned, derelict or under-used industrial buildings and land that may be
contaminated but have potential for redevelopment
Counter-urbanization The movement of population away from inner urban areas to a new town, a new estate,
a commuter town or a village on the edge or just beyond the city limits/rural-urban fringe.
Ecological footprint The theoretical measurement of the amount of land and water a population requires to
produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its waste under prevailing technology.
Re-urbanization The development of activities to increase residential population densities within the
existing built-up area of a city. This may include the redevelopment of vacant land, the
refurbishment of housing and the development of new business enterprises.
Suburb A residential area within or just outside the boundaries of a city.
Suburbanization The outward growth of towns and cities to engulf surround villages and rural areas. This
may result from the out-migration of population from the inner urban area to the suburbs
or from inward rural-urban movement.
Sustainable urban An approach to urban management that seeks to maintain and improve the quality of life
management strategy for current and future urban dwellers. Aspects of management may be social (housing
quality, crime), economic (jobs, income) or environmental (air, water, land, resources).
Urbanization An increasing percentage of a country’s population comes to live in towns and cities. It
may involve both rural-urban migration and natural increase.
Urban sprawl The unplanned and uncontrolled physical expansion of an urban area into the
surrounding countryside. It is closely linked to the process of suburbanization.
1. Urban population
Urbanization
Define urbanization and explain the variation in global growth rates and pattern.
- urbanization: an increasing % of a country’s population comes to live in towns and cities. It may involve both
rural-urban migration and natural increase.
- positive migratory balance + natural increase
- more in LEDCs
- European countries are experience de-urbanization
- Lagos (Nigeria) is experience over-urbanization: the volume of immigration far exceeds the provision of jobs
Inward movement
Explain the processes of centripetal movements (rural-urban migration, gentrification, re-urbanization/urban
renewal)
- centripetal movement: the migration of people into towns and cities
- rural-urban migration: rural push factors + urban pull factors
- gentrification: the reinvestment of capital into inner city areas (mostly the improvement of residential areas)
- re-urbanization/urban renewal: revitalization of urban areas and a movement of people back into these areas
Outward movement
Explain the processes of centrifugal movements (suburbanization, counter-urbanization, urban sprawl).
- centrifugal movement/decentralization: the outward movement of a population from the centre of a city towards
its edge or periphery, resulting in an expansion of the city
- suburbanization: the outward growth of town and cities to engulf surrounding villages and rural area
- e.g. out-migration of population from the inner urban areas to suburb or from inward rural-urban movement)
1
, Geography Notes Option G: Urban Environments
- counter-urbanization: movement of people from inner urban areas to areas beyond the city limits - urban fringe
- urban sprawl: the unplanned and uncontrolled physical expansion of an urban area into the surround
countryside
Natural change
Explain the contribution of natural change to patterns of population density within urban areas.
- migration + natural increase = higher population density=
The global megacity
Explain the global increase in the number and location of megacities (population over 10 million).
- before the top ranks were held only by rich megacities (Tokyo)
- now dominated by cities in LEDCs, e.g. Dhaka, Kolkata, Karachi, Lagos (third most populated city —> 25
million)
2. Urban land use
Residential areas
Explain the locations of residential areas in relation to wealth, ethnicity and family status (stage in life cycle).
- Social
- In any city, elderly people and families that prefer to live in residential areas that are far away from industry,
recreational facilities, and congestion (therefore, the central business district) according to the CBD model.
- Location of schools determine the the location of family residential areas; parents prefer to live closer to
schools so the commute for their children is shorter
- In some developing cities like Mexico City, residential areas can be located in gated communities to lower
likelihood of crime or influence from slums
- Employed people would like to live in areas closer to work to shorten commute, or live closer to areas that
have access to transport networks
- Economics
- According to the PLVI model/bid rent theory, the CBD is located in the inner city. In addition the PLVI shows
that residential areas are located in the outer city as inner city land is devoted for commercial use and
industry
- Gentrification: young and upwardly mobile move to residential cities nearer to the inner city for easier
accessibility to the CBD where they find employment
- In some developed cities, more financially able residents live in more suburban areas whereas less
financially able have no choice but to live closer to industry in inner city residential areas with slum like
conditions (example: caged homes in Hong Kong)
- In some poorer cities, poorer residents prefer to live in shanty towns and slums through urban sprawl on the
city limits (example: Dharovi in Mumbai or slums in Rio De Janeiro)
- Demographics
- Cities can be segregated into ethnic residential areas where same ethnic groups live closer together. An
example of this would be China Towns in the US ethnic segregation can also be legislated, an infamous
example being Apartheid in South Africa cities with a high aging population may be segregated by age
where elderly citizens live in city limits or in the suburbs (example being cities in Japan which has a high
aging population)
- Physical
- slums are usually built on hilly terrain that's unsuitable for residence as suitable terrain has been occupied by
the city limits residential areas are built further away from prisons, drainage/sewage facilities
Examine patterns of urban poverty and deprivation (such as slums, squatter settlements, areas of low-cost
housing and inner-city areas).
- MEDCs: inner-city areas or ghettos ; LEDCs: shanty towns
- measuring deprivation
- physical indicators: quality of housing, level of pollution, incidence of crime, vandalism, graffiti
2
