geo terminology

urban dynamics

the changing elements that make up an urban environment

migration

moving from one place to another

immigration

coming into another country to live forever
think: import

emmigration

leaving one's country to live in another
think: export

migrants

people who elect to move

refugees

people who are forced to leave their country and cannot return

liveability

all the characteristics of a community that contribute to the quality of life of the people who live there

urban

relating to a city

rural

relating to the countryside

city

a large town

town

larger than a village, and smaller than a city

village

a community of people smaller than a town

population density

population/area

population distribution

how population is spread out in an area

push factors

negative conditions that cause people to leave their homes and migrate to another, usually urban, region

pull factors

positive conditions that attract people to new locations, usually urban, from other areas

gentrification

the process where a poor urban area is improved by wealthier people moving in, attracting businesses

urbanisation

the process of how cities grow, and an increasing population coming to live in the city

urban consolidation

a set of planning policies that intend to make an efficient development on a pre-existing urbanised area rather than on non-urbanised land

exurbanisation

the process where people move from the city to rural areas, but continue their urban ways of life

suburbanisation

the growth of areas on the outskirts of cities as individuals seek homes and commercials. one of the causes in the increase of urban sprawl

urban sprawl

a low-density urban development, which heavily relies on the use of personal transport due to a lack of access to public transport alternatives

urban decline

the deterioration of the inner city often caused by lack of investment and maintenance. usually accompanied with a drop in population, employment, etc.

urban renewel

the renovation of run-down buildings, streets or neighbourhoods, accompanied with the process of gentrification

counterurbanisation

the movement away from cities, including suburbanisation, exurbanisation, or movement to rural areas

urban villages

residential districts comprising people of the same culture and forming a community, often enclaves of an area associated with large migrant communities

spatial exclusion

areas which are restricted in spatial access in urban areas for luxury lifestyles. manifested in gated communities, walled estates and high security suburbs

overpopulation

when the number of people in an area exceeds the capacity of the environment

natural increase

when the birth rate is higher than death rate

net migration

when the immigration is higher than emigration

immigration nations

countries with a lot of immigrants