AQA GCSE Geography Paper 2 Question 1

What is urbanisation?

A growth of population in urban areas.

Where is urbanisation happening?

LICs and NEEs have faster rate than HICs.

Why is urbanisation in LICs/NEEs?

In HICs most already live in urban areas, and LICs and NEEs have rapid hyper urbanisation due to rapid economic growth and subsequent migration.

What is a megacity?

An urban area with over 10 million people living there.

What is counter-urbanisation?

The movement of people out of the city into the rural-urban fringe.

What is re-urbanisation?

The movement of younger people back into the centre of urban areas after regeneration.

What is urban regeneration?

The revival of old, previously industrial urban areas by improvements or clearing and rebuilding.

What are greenfield sites?

Areas of land which have never been used or built upon.

What are brownfield sites?

Areas of land which have been previously used or built upon which are now vacant/derelict.

What is urban sprawl?

Urban areas growing too rapidly.

What is a greenbelt land?

Greenfield sites surrounding urban areas which are protected against development.

What are the causes of urbanisation?

• Rural-Urban migration.

• Natural increase: birth rates exceeding death rates.

What are push factors for Rural-Urban migration?

-Natural disasters.
-War and conflict.
-Drought causing low incomes in rural areas.
-Lack of opportunities for employment/education in rural areas.

What are pull factors for Rural-Urban migration?

-More job opportunities with higher income.
-Better education/healthcare access.
-Increased quality of life.
-Following family members.term-18

What increases birth rates?

-LICs/NEEs with youthful populations leads to high fertility rates.
-Children can add more to income.

What lowers death rates?

-Improved medical facilities, reducing death rates and infant mortality.
-Better living conditions, causing longer life expectancy.

What can traffic congestion cause?

Social: stationary traffic increasing air pollution, breathing problems.
Economic: people late to work, businesses lose money.
Environmental: increased greenhouse gas emissions, increased impact on climate change.

What are integrated transport systems?

Linking all forms of transport in a network, to reduce congestion and provide more sustainable transport options.

How can congestion be reduced?

• congestion charges o discourage driving in urban areas.

• pedestrianising and cycle lanes.

• encouraging car-sharing schemes.

• cheaper and faster public transport.

What does sustainable urban living mean? Example?

To reduce the amount of resources being used and for the urban area to have a limited impact on the environment.
Example: Freiburg, Germany

What are strategies of sustainable urban living?

-Water conservation
-Energy conservation
-Creating green space
-Waste recycling

Methods of water conservation?

-Collecting rainwater for gardens/flushing toilets.
-Installing water meters.

Methods of energy conservation?

-Promoting renewable energy sources.
-Making homes more energy efficient.

Why are green spaces created?

-Trees create cooler conditions and clean the air from pollutants.
-Reduces flood risks by reducing surface runoff.
-Encourages healthy living and exercise.

What is done to recycle waste?

-More frequent collection of household waste.
-Local recycling facilities.
-Awareness in the benefits.

Freiburg background?

-City with 220,000 people in South-West Germany
-Wealthy area with technology access

Freiburg sustainable strategies?

-Green roofs to collect water
-Permeable pavements which allow water to soak into the ground
-Solar power use on buildings
-40% of the city is forested: recreational spaces, cleaner air, reduced flood risk
-Integrated transport with electric trams and cycle routes

Birmingham location and background?

-West Midlands with population of 1,200,000.
-2nd largest city in the UK.
-Grew during industrial revolution: supplied raw materials for metal-working.

Birmingham's importance?

-Commerce, retail, and finance (Bull Ring).
-Five major universities.
-International airport.
-Hosted Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Migration in Birmingham?

-International migrants arrived between 1950-1980 for manufacturing opportunities.
-Attracted to Sparkbrook: cheap housing at time, quality slowly improved.

-Since 2000, Birmingham has had many UK young migrants for education and employment: provides reason for regeneration.

Birmingham's opportunities resulting from regeneration?

SOCIAL: cultural attractions from its multicultural population, reputation for retail/leisure.

ECONOMIC: thousands of jobs, big city plan attracting large employers.

ENVIRONMENTAL: clean air zones, electric metro.

Birmingham challenges?

SOCIAL: inner city (Sparkbrook) with high levels of social deprivation.

ECONOMIC: closing factories causing large-scale unemployment, inequality.

ENVIRONMENTAL: brownfield sites, air pollution, urban sprawl increasing pressure on greenfield sites.

Birmingham regeneration projects?

AIMS: attract investment from businesses and create job opportunities, improve the environment.

HOW: used brownfield sites: redeveloped (Bull Ring), or re-using old buildings.

WHERE: The inner city: Bull Ring and Grand Central.

Rio De Janeiro's location?

-South-East Brazil on Atlantic coast.
-2nd most populated city in Brazil: 13,800,000 people.

Rio's importance?

-2nd largest city: former capital.
-Major port and trade centre.
-2014 World Cup, 2016 Summer Olympics.

Migration in Rio?

-Millions from rural areas with drought, lack of services, and unemployment.
-Migrate for better quality of life.
-Rio has higher incomes over wide job range suitable for migrant skills in the informal economy.
-Build their own houses: favelas (slums: Rocinha).
-Rapid favela growth causing urban sprawl.

Challenges of living in Rio?

SOCIAL: limited education/healthcare access, social inequality, power cuts, poor access to safe clean water, crime.

ECONOMIC: informal economy has low pay, high unemployment in favelas.

ENVIRONMENTAL: water pollution from raw sewage, air pollution from traffic congestion, waste collection in favelas is challenging.

Opportunities being created in Rio?

SOCIAL: education grants, water/healthcare/education access.

ECONOMIC: adult education courses, jobs from tourism, the port, and manufacturing.

ENVIRONMENTAL: new sewage (300km), one-way roads, improved public transport (cable car).

Rio: managing growth of favelas?

-Self-help schemes: provide basic materials for improvements to their homes -> safe electricity/water and sewage pipes.

-Favela Bairro project: new health, leisure, and education facilities, improved sanitation -> increasing quality of life.

-Building planning (Campo Grande): already have electricity/water/sewage, so healthier/safer, more rapid improvements, better quality of life.