Urban Patterns and Related Concepts

Flashcards focused on key concepts of urban patterns and development as outlined in KBAT 13.

What is a Central Business District (CBD)?

The commercial and business center of a city, characterized by high land values and a concentration of businesses.

What are the three models of North American cities?

The Concentric Zone Model, the Sector Model, and the Multiple Nuclei Model.

What does the term 'urban sprawl' refer to?

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land.

What is the significance of greenbelts in urban planning?

Greenbelts are areas of open land around a city designed to limit urban sprawl and provide recreational areas.

Define 'urban renewal'.

A process in which a city revitalizes and redevelops deteriorated urban areas.

How do European cities differ from North American cities in terms of suburban growth patterns?

European cities tend to have more compact suburbs with greenbelts, while North American cities often exhibit urban sprawl.

What is the primary function of a metropolitan statistical area (MSA)?

To define urban areas based on population density and the social and economic integration of surrounding areas.

What is gentrification?

The process by which urban neighborhoods are transformed through the influx of more affluent residents, leading to rising property values and displacement of lower-income residents.

What are squatter settlements?

Improvised housing areas where individuals build makeshift homes on land they do not own, often seen in developing countries.

Explain the concept of 'density gradient'.

The change in population density in an urban area, typically diminishing as one moves away from the city center.