Unit 1: Urbanisation
Case studies and galore
Definition of urbanisation: Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas,
the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in
which societies adapt to this change.
What is a megacity?
A very large city, typically one with a population of over ten million people.
Push and pull factors of urbanisation
Pull:
- Better living conditions
- More jobs
- Higher wages
- More facilities
- Better education
- Better health
Push:
- Unemployment
- Lower wages
- Natural disasters
- Fewer facilities
- Poor education
- Poor health services
- Poor hygiene
Factors that affect urban environments (SEEP)
The consumption of food, energy, water, land and disposal of waste.
In an urban environment – what needs managing?
The factors that need managing for urban environments is sustainability. The use of energy would
be significant which would result in pollution in the city therefore managing that will be crucial
for the future of the city. The consumption of resources like food and water should be carefully
1
,done as a waste of these crucial resources can cause shortages resulting in many deaths as these
are the things that humans rely on greatly.
Impacts of urban growth (SEEP)
Rapid urban growth can lead to poverty, overpopulation, increasing pollution, health problems,
unemployment, lack of crucial resources and environmental hazards.
Parts of a city:
A city can be split into 4 main parts:
- CBD (central business district)
- The inner city
- The suburbs
- The rural-urban fringe
Hoyt and Burgess model
The Burgess model is laid out in concentric circles
whereas the Hoyt model is less carefully planned and
laid out in chunks.
The Hoyt Model is more accurate as a city is planned
more practically. The cities of London and Chicago are
laid out in this model type, one of which is a
well-known city and a hub of business.
Article on models:
Most towns and cities have grown out from an historic
core, which is why both the Burgess and Hoyt models
have a CBD at their heart. Towns and cities grow over
time and can merge to become conurbations.
Many industrial zones are no longer working areas.
For example, old docks areas are often no longer used
to transport cargo and may become derelict. This
creates an unattractive environment for surrounding
residents and can become a dangerous wasteland. Land in the city is expensive though, more so
the closer to the centre you are. This means it is unlikely to stand unused for very long.
Some historic parts of cities are being intentionally preserved to maintain a sense of history.
These are called conservation areas. This helps to give variety and character to an area.
2
,Residential lands take up the majority of the space in any city. There are strict rules on where we
can build: on brown sites that have been built on before, on greenfield sites where approval is
needed to use this untouched stretch and on green belt land which is completely protected. Some
areas become more desirable to live in than others, for example if there is a good school in the
area. The worst areas, often with high crime rates are called sink estates.
C.B.D Inner City Suburbs
(central business district)
Schools, Universities, Mixture of old housing; Terraced More affordable land
Nurseries housing
Businesses and Offices (of Large areas of immigrants Communities with cul de sacs,
major retailers and all) curved tree lined streets.
Highest buildings and Abandoned buildings They have houses with garages,
skyscrapers which are expensive.
Most accessible area in the Housing and buildings usually Has expensive residential
city constructed during the industrial housing.
revolution (newcastle); Not many
houses with gardens; compact
housing
Center point for transport: Cheaper land at the edge of the city Housing usually comprises
motorway, the coast road, isemi-detached and detached
metro routes, train lines and houses, detached housing would
bus station be found further away from the
city.
Expensive land Near rivers and train lines for easy Has gardens and many open
access to resources. fields of space.
Concentration of specialist Abandoned factories from the Away from industrial buildings.
shops and offices industrial revolution
Oldest part of the city with Mixture of industrial and Cleaner environment- no
historic buildings residential buildings pollution or traffic congestion
Tourism: hotels and Light manufacturing still happens- Better schools
restaurants higher levels of unemployment
3
, Little residential land use Factories and warehouses Lots of walking paths with
forests, parks and lakes.
Government buildings More labour camps near the area Wealthier people.
Sustainable urban living case studies
- Sustainable urban living is when there is minimal damage to the environment when social
and economic activities can help make the city better.
Ways in which cities can be made sustainable:
- Recycling, reusing, reducing
- Appropriate use of resources
- Conservation of energy/renewable energy
- More greenery, like plants, trees etc.
- Water management
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of Parana State and is found in the South East of Brazil around 1,000km
from Rio de Janeiro. In a recent survey 99% of Curitiba’s residents said they were happy with their
city. It has been transformed from an agricultural city to a manufacturing one through sustainable
planning.
Curitiba allowed the local people to share their opinion to decide on rules for sustainability. They
were completely involved in every situation, which made it possible for the creation of a
successful sustainable urban living.
What did Curitba do?
- Curitiba achieves most of its sustainable living from sorting through the waste produced
by people.
- The trash is sorted into two sections: organic waste and recyclables.
- The recyclable trash is picked up and then workers sort them into piles for them to be
recycled later. This allowed more people to get jobs and reduced the number of poor
people.
- Unwanted books in households are given to the library and the museum is filled with
treasures at times found in the garbage of some households.
4
Case studies and galore
Definition of urbanisation: Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas,
the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in
which societies adapt to this change.
What is a megacity?
A very large city, typically one with a population of over ten million people.
Push and pull factors of urbanisation
Pull:
- Better living conditions
- More jobs
- Higher wages
- More facilities
- Better education
- Better health
Push:
- Unemployment
- Lower wages
- Natural disasters
- Fewer facilities
- Poor education
- Poor health services
- Poor hygiene
Factors that affect urban environments (SEEP)
The consumption of food, energy, water, land and disposal of waste.
In an urban environment – what needs managing?
The factors that need managing for urban environments is sustainability. The use of energy would
be significant which would result in pollution in the city therefore managing that will be crucial
for the future of the city. The consumption of resources like food and water should be carefully
1
,done as a waste of these crucial resources can cause shortages resulting in many deaths as these
are the things that humans rely on greatly.
Impacts of urban growth (SEEP)
Rapid urban growth can lead to poverty, overpopulation, increasing pollution, health problems,
unemployment, lack of crucial resources and environmental hazards.
Parts of a city:
A city can be split into 4 main parts:
- CBD (central business district)
- The inner city
- The suburbs
- The rural-urban fringe
Hoyt and Burgess model
The Burgess model is laid out in concentric circles
whereas the Hoyt model is less carefully planned and
laid out in chunks.
The Hoyt Model is more accurate as a city is planned
more practically. The cities of London and Chicago are
laid out in this model type, one of which is a
well-known city and a hub of business.
Article on models:
Most towns and cities have grown out from an historic
core, which is why both the Burgess and Hoyt models
have a CBD at their heart. Towns and cities grow over
time and can merge to become conurbations.
Many industrial zones are no longer working areas.
For example, old docks areas are often no longer used
to transport cargo and may become derelict. This
creates an unattractive environment for surrounding
residents and can become a dangerous wasteland. Land in the city is expensive though, more so
the closer to the centre you are. This means it is unlikely to stand unused for very long.
Some historic parts of cities are being intentionally preserved to maintain a sense of history.
These are called conservation areas. This helps to give variety and character to an area.
2
,Residential lands take up the majority of the space in any city. There are strict rules on where we
can build: on brown sites that have been built on before, on greenfield sites where approval is
needed to use this untouched stretch and on green belt land which is completely protected. Some
areas become more desirable to live in than others, for example if there is a good school in the
area. The worst areas, often with high crime rates are called sink estates.
C.B.D Inner City Suburbs
(central business district)
Schools, Universities, Mixture of old housing; Terraced More affordable land
Nurseries housing
Businesses and Offices (of Large areas of immigrants Communities with cul de sacs,
major retailers and all) curved tree lined streets.
Highest buildings and Abandoned buildings They have houses with garages,
skyscrapers which are expensive.
Most accessible area in the Housing and buildings usually Has expensive residential
city constructed during the industrial housing.
revolution (newcastle); Not many
houses with gardens; compact
housing
Center point for transport: Cheaper land at the edge of the city Housing usually comprises
motorway, the coast road, isemi-detached and detached
metro routes, train lines and houses, detached housing would
bus station be found further away from the
city.
Expensive land Near rivers and train lines for easy Has gardens and many open
access to resources. fields of space.
Concentration of specialist Abandoned factories from the Away from industrial buildings.
shops and offices industrial revolution
Oldest part of the city with Mixture of industrial and Cleaner environment- no
historic buildings residential buildings pollution or traffic congestion
Tourism: hotels and Light manufacturing still happens- Better schools
restaurants higher levels of unemployment
3
, Little residential land use Factories and warehouses Lots of walking paths with
forests, parks and lakes.
Government buildings More labour camps near the area Wealthier people.
Sustainable urban living case studies
- Sustainable urban living is when there is minimal damage to the environment when social
and economic activities can help make the city better.
Ways in which cities can be made sustainable:
- Recycling, reusing, reducing
- Appropriate use of resources
- Conservation of energy/renewable energy
- More greenery, like plants, trees etc.
- Water management
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of Parana State and is found in the South East of Brazil around 1,000km
from Rio de Janeiro. In a recent survey 99% of Curitiba’s residents said they were happy with their
city. It has been transformed from an agricultural city to a manufacturing one through sustainable
planning.
Curitiba allowed the local people to share their opinion to decide on rules for sustainability. They
were completely involved in every situation, which made it possible for the creation of a
successful sustainable urban living.
What did Curitba do?
- Curitiba achieves most of its sustainable living from sorting through the waste produced
by people.
- The trash is sorted into two sections: organic waste and recyclables.
- The recyclable trash is picked up and then workers sort them into piles for them to be
recycled later. This allowed more people to get jobs and reduced the number of poor
people.
- Unwanted books in households are given to the library and the museum is filled with
treasures at times found in the garbage of some households.
4
