Urbanisation GCSE Geography edexcel B

what are rural areas

rural areas tend to have a small population with a small population density and a large proportion of open green spaces, rural people work in agriculture or local villages

what are urban areas

urban areas tend to be in towns or cities, they have a high population with a high population density, limited open and green spaces, urban residents tend to work to work in offices, factories or running services in the city

what is the general trend in urban growth

the world’s urban population is growing and will continue to grow in the future, urban cities will grow at an accelerated rate in developing countries whereas the urban population in developed cities will grow more gradually

definine the term megacity

cities with populations over 10 million people

what happens when megacities grow too rapidly

not all the residents can be looked after and infrastructure is under high pressure, this leads to inequalities eg. mumbai, mexico city

what are world cities

cities that have a large global influence even if their population isn’t as large as a megacity

how do world cities demonstrate their influence

1. political decisions - leaders of world cities make decisons that impact other areas of the world eg. being allied to another country or adopting more sustainable policies

2. migration and travel - world cities tend to have large international airports that see many tourists and business people passing through, they are common ‘stop off; points for long flights

3. businesses - a city can be a hub for many organisations and businesses. TNCs like to have their headqurters set up in world cities as they are more easily connected to the rest of the world and the reputation of having their headquarters in a world city adds to the brand

what are the two causes for urban growth

1. natural increase

2. rural to urban migration

characteristics of formal work

1. contract

2. regular wage

3. safe working conditions

however formal work is competitive so qualifications are required, therefore workers who don’t have the degree won’t get the job

characteristics of informal work

1. temporary

2. limited work regulations

3. no contract so workers are vulnerable to exploitation

businesses dont protect their workers’s health, overwork them and give them dangerous work

doesn’t contribute to the economy as informal workers don’t pay the correct amount of tax

why is the global population growing give three reasons

1. improved healthcare -

2. Many countries especially in south asia have better natural disaster defence systems so less lives are lost

3. better knowledge of midwifery reduces pregnancy fatalities and government policies that allow time off and better care in work places for pregnant women

what is rural to urban migration

the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas, often in search of better opportunities. 

what are push factors away from rural areas

• unemployment

• lower wages

• crop failure due to climate change

• poor living conditions

• poor health and education services

• few facilities - as they are isolated from the city

• natural disasters

• civil war

what are pull factors towards the city

• more jobs

• higher wages

• better living conditions

• better education and health services

• better facilities such as public transport

• less chance of natural disasters

what is suburbanisation

movement away from the city centre and towards the suburbs of the city

what are reasons for suburbanisation

1. less traffic congestion

2. more land per house so larger gardens, bedrooms etc

3. lower crime rate, so safer to raise families

4. less pollutions

how do governments encourage suburbanisation

1. allowing people to work from home, so they don’t have to commute to the city as much to work their job, also makes it more flexible and easier for the worker if they have kids

2. building new transport links to the periphery of the city

3. allowing new housing developments on greenfield land around the city

what is counter urbanisation

the net migration of people from urban areas to rural areas. It's the opposite of urbanization, where people move from rural to urban areas. 

what are reasons for counter urbanisation

1. high costs of housing

2. schools are too full so there are too few teachers to students

3. roads are congested leading to air pollution

4. increasing crime rates

5. limited leisure facilities and small parks

6. second homes and early retirement

what is deindustrialisation

the decline of a city’s economy where many businesses become bankrupt or leave the city

what are ways in which de industrialisation affects people’s lives in the city

1. workers can lose their jobs as businesses move away, so higher levels of unemployment

2. homelessness increases as households lose their income due to more unemployment

describe the CBD

• the most accessible part of the city

• Land is in high demand - increasing the cost and density of buildings

• Reduced space led to developers building upwards

• oldest part of the city

• crowded

describe the inner city

• Older, terraced 'worker' housing 

• Older industrial areas now mostly derelict or redeveloped

• Areas are centred around transport links and access

describe the inner suburbs

• Semi and detached housing with gardens

• Tree-lined avenues and cul-de-sacs ( dead ends)

• Smaller retail premises

• cheaper land prices than CBD and inner city

describe the outer suburbs

• large detached houses

• Housing is clustered into estates

• Some industrial land use

• Now the most accessible area

• Development of business, retail and science parks

what factors affect land use

• Accessibility

• Planning decisions/regulations - some land is protected from the development 'greenbelt'

• The land cost/value

• Topography - the physical geography of an area

how does the periphery differ for develoepd and developing countries

the poorest famillies live on the periphery in devloping countries

middle income families live on the periphery as housing prices aren’t too high and it allows them to live close to the city and commute

what is regeneration

when older cities begin to redevelop their run down inner city areas in order to attract people to live close to the amenities of the city centre eg. by starting housing devlopments or building new shopping centres