Chapter 7: Building Sustainable Cities

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 7 on building sustainable cities, including city characteristics, rural-urban relationships, environmental impacts and sustainable management strategies.

City

A defined urban area with a large population, high population density, extensive built-up infrastructure and a wide range of functions such as administrative, commercial, educational and industrial activities.

Large Population Size

Characteristic of cities where 500,000 to over 10 million people live in one urban area, sometimes creating megacities.

Megacity

An urban area whose population exceeds 10 million inhabitants.

Population Density

The number of people living in one square kilometre (km²); cities have high densities compared to rural areas.

Built-up Area

Land surface in a city largely covered by buildings and extensive infrastructure such as roads, utilities and communication networks.

Infrastructure

Systems and services—sanitation, garbage disposal, electricity, water supply, transport and communication—needed for city operation.

Rural Area

An open swath of land with few buildings, low population density, limited infrastructure and economies focused on agriculture.

Rural-Urban Migration

Internal movement of people from rural areas to cities, driven by push factors in rural regions and pull factors in urban centres.

Push Factors

Conditions that drive people away from rural areas, such as limited jobs, poor services or lack of infrastructure.

Pull Factors

Attractive qualities of cities—better jobs, education and services—that draw migrants from rural areas.

Provision of Goods and Services

Interdependence where rural areas supply food to cities and, in return, rural residents access urban amenities like hospitals and universities.

Education (Urban Opportunity)

Availability of institutes of higher learning, vocational schools, polytechnics and universities concentrated in cities.

Employment (Urban Opportunity)

Greater job availability in cities due to extensive infrastructure, service industries and a well-educated workforce.

Technological Innovation

Process more likely in cities where skilled people, entrepreneurs and investors cluster to develop new ideas and products.

Environmental Pollution

Degradation of the environment (air, water, land) that increases with urban activities and population growth.

Water Pollution

Contamination of water bodies from improper waste disposal, leaking sewage and absence of treatment services, threatening aquatic life and human health.

Air Pollution

Harmful emissions from fossil-fuel combustion, factories and vehicles that can cause respiratory illnesses and strain healthcare systems.

Competition for Natural Resources

Rivalry for limited land and water as urban populations grow, often leading to conflicts or encroachment on surrounding areas.

Land Scarcity

Shortage of available land in densely populated cities, prompting higher building density or mixed land-use developments.

Water Shortage

Insufficient freshwater due to reduced catchment areas, climate change or overuse, intensified by urban expansion.

Environmental Management

Strategies cities use to reduce pollution, manage hazards and ensure sustainable interaction with the environment.

Human-Induced Hazard

Risk events such as oil spills, industrial accidents or fires caused by human error or negligence, mitigated through regulations and safety checks.

Natural Hazard

Environmental threats like earthquakes, tsunamis or typhoons; cities respond with better building materials and land-use planning.

Sustainable City

An urban area designed and managed to meet present needs without compromising environmental, social and economic resources for future generations.

Squatter Settlement

Informal housing area (slum) built without legal rights to land, often due to insufficient or unaffordable formal housing.

Housing Guidelines

Regulations that require high-quality building materials and adherence to planning standards to ensure safe, durable dwellings.

Transport Modes

Land, air and water systems that move people and goods; variety improves efficiency, reduces congestion and lowers pollution.

Universal Design

Built-environment approach ensuring buildings, transport and public spaces are accessible to all groups, including the aged and physically disabled.