Geography - Urban environments

Brownfield

An area of land that has been built on before. Normally in urban areas.

Greenfield

An area of land that has not been built on before. Normally on the rural-urban fringe or countryside.

Advantages of greenfield sites

More affordable - as further away from CBD as less demand for land.

Transport and accessibility - Normally surrounded by main roads and motorways on rural-urban fringe. This means resources and people can travel to the business quicker.

Cheaper and easier to build on.

Healthier environment.

Disadvantages of greenfield sites

Encourages further suburban sprawl.

Damage to wildlife and habitats.

Lacks access to public transport - encourages commuting and congestion

Cost of installing services such as electricity and infrastructure.

Valuable farmland lost.

Advantages of brownfield sites

Helps revive and reuse old urban areas that were unsightly

Reduces urban sprawl

Services are already in place

Located near to labour pool - reduces car use

Reduces risk of squatter settlements developing

Disadvantages of brownfield sites

Expensive to clear old buildings and free land of pollution

Often surrounded by rundown areas so does not appeal to wealthier people

Higher levels of pollution

Describe suburbanisation

The outward expansion of the city edge as people move from the inner city to the rural-urban fringe. This is attractive to families with growing children because the land is cheaper, there is more space, and less noise.

Describe the changes happening on the rural-urban fringe

There is investment to build large shopping centres, science parks, and business parks.

This land is attractive because there is more space to build large car parks to attract more customers.

The area is more accessible by large motorways and main roads so product can be bought in easier.

The land value is increasing and lower income people are being priced out of the rural-urban fringe.

Problems faced by rapidly growing urban areas in LICs

Informal economy - there are not enough jobs for large population. People instead do illegal jobs that are unregulated and untaxed by the government, such as shoe polishing.

Congestion - Roads were not developed to cope with such large population. Causes pollution and costs economy as people late to work.

Waste disposal - not enough time to develop working waste collection system. So litter left on streets or added to large landfill that pollutes the environment.

Segregation

Grouping of people due to factors such as ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, income or age.

Megacity

City with over 10 million people

Migration

the movement of large groups of people from one place to another.

Urbanisation

The increasing proportion of people living in urban areas compared to rural.

Overpopulation

Too many people for an area to deal with which puts pressure on resources.

Informal sector/economy

Jobs that are untaxed and unregistered

Rural-urban fringe

Where the greenfields and open spaces of the countryside meet the built up parts of towns and cities.

Agglomeration

When economic activity is concentrated to an area with a favourable factor.

Counter urbanisation

The movement of people out of the city to a rural area

Natural increase

Higher birth rate than death rate

Squatter settlement/Shanty town

A settlement that has been illegally built on at the edge of a city by people who do not own the land using makeshift material.

Reasons for squatter settlement forming

Limitations in affordable housing and employment in cities.

What would be attracted to the rural-urban fringe?

Agriculture

Large families

Warehouses

Out of town shopping centres

What are the different land use zones?

CBD

Inner city

Inner suburbs

Outer suburbs

Rural-urban fringe/ industrial area

What are the key factors affecting urban land use patterns?

Land value - Higher in city centre (PLVI). Retail locates here as it needs high footfall.

Accessibility - transport links - companies that trade goods internationally need easy access to motorways for lorries.

Locational needs - different industries have different needs. E.g. nuclear power plant must be near water.

Why do higher rates of urbanisation occur in developing countries?

Going through process of industrialisation.

Fewer jobs in rural areas due to mechanisation.

Manufacturing increases in cities.

NEEs attract TNCs.

Rural-urban migration.

Younger people migrate, they have families, further increasing rate of urbanisation.

Push factors that encourage urbanisation

Lack of community

Lack of jobs

Lack of education/healthcare/services

Lack of leisure opportunities

Lack of housing

Pull factors that encourage urbanisation

Bigger community

More jobs available

More schools/hospitals/services

More leisure opportunities

More housing available

Counter urbanisation

The movement of people out of the city to a rural area like a village

Reasons for growth of counter urbanisation

Increase in job availability in countryside due to modern technology and faster broadband allowing people to work from home.

Commuting has become easier.

Online supermarket delivery.

Problems created by rapid urbanisation

Congestion - people late to work - less productivity - impacts economy. - air pollution - breathing + respiratory issues - global warming.

Transport - Overcrowded and slow - impacts quality of life - lateness - economic impact.

Unemployment - increased competition for jobs. International migration creates issues with non transferrable qualifications and language.

Crime - more people - more crime - pressure on police force. - high unemployment - rise of street gangs. - International migration creates tension.

Environmental issues - Waste disposal under pressure. - Increased electricity use.