Urban Environments

Urbanisation

The increasing proportion of people living in urban areas.

Highest urbanisation

90% in emerging and developed economies.

Lowest urbanisation

Found in Africa and South East Asia.

Hyper-urbanisation

High rate of growth in developing countries.

What happened in 2008?

Over 50% of the world's population lived in urban areas.

CBD

Central Business District.

Urbanisation Pathway Stage 1

Early urbanisation - developing country.

Urbanisation Pathway Stage 2

Accelerating urbanisation - emerging country.

Urbanisation Pathway Stage 3

Mature urbanisation - developed country.

Urbanisation Pathway Stage 4

Counter-urbanisation - developed country.

Agglomeration

The clustering of economic activities in a particular area.

Suburbanisation

Urban settlements growing outwards toward the suburbs.

Causes of Suburbanisation

Better transport links between CBD and suburbs.

CBD Push Factors

Congestion, overcrowding, pollution.

Suburban Pull Factors

Less pollution, greener, more space.

Dormitory Settlement

Residential areas where people commute to the CBD for work.

RUF

Rural-Urban Fringe.

Counter-urbanisation

Movement of people from urban to rural areas.

Effect of counter-urbanisation

Encourages decentralisation of activities away from the CBD.

Urban regeneration/gentrification

Redevelopment of run-down urban areas.

Example of regeneration

East London / Stratford and Olympic Park.

Millionaire city population

Over 1 million.

Megacity population

Over 10 million.

Megacity characteristics

High order services, large influence, top of hierarchy.

Global city definition

A city with global and financial importance.

Examples of global cities

London, New York, Tokyo.

Factors for megacity emergence

Trade routes, mineral resources, river crossings, coastal locations.

Rapid urbanisation problems

Congestion, crime, pollution, lack of housing and services.

Housing problems

High demand, slums in LICs, poor transport access.

Water & electricity problems

Supply can't meet demand, unsafe sources used.

Congestion & transport problems

Overcrowded systems, pollution.

Employment problems

Many rely on informal sector, high unemployment.

Poverty cycle

A loop of poverty passed through generations.

Land use pattern factors

Locational needs, accessibility, land value.

Types of urban land use

Residential, commercial, industrial, etc.

Residential area influences

Wealth, occupation, ethnicity.

Land value factors

Bid rent theory, PLVI, land market.

Urban land market

Land sold to highest bidder.

Bid rent theory

Land value and demand decrease with distance from CBD.

PLVI

Peak Land Value Intersection - highest land value in CBD.

Locational needs

Businesses grouping to share infrastructure.

London Case Study: Transport & Pollution

High NO2 due to congestion and idling cars.

London: Energy Problems

20% more energy needed by 2050; fuel poverty affects 1 in 10.

London: Food Problems

48% of food is imported; Brexit has increased food insecurity.

London: Waste Problems

Ecological deficit; only 52% of waste is recycled.

London: Segregation

Wealth and ethnic gaps, studentification, gated communities.

London: Sustainable Transport Strategies

Santander bikes, Crossrail, hydrogen buses, ULEZ congestion charge.

London: Sustainable Energy

Footfall harvesting, biofuels in taxis.

London: Sustainable Food

Vertical farming, 2000+ food banks in the UK.

London: Sustainable Waste

Circular city model, target zero landfill by 2025.

London: Sustainable Segregation Strategy

Pepperpot housing for mixed-income communities.

Kibera: Living Conditions

Poor housing, sanitation, water access, and electricity.

Kibera: Jobs

Mostly informal - vending, waste picking, manual work.

Kibera: Health

Poor due to lack of sanitation and clean water.

Kibera: Education

Limited access, but improved through charity and community schools.

Kibera: Top-down Scheme

Bulldozing and rehousing by government - limited success.

Kibera: Site & Services Scheme

Residents lease plots with utilities - few benefit due to high demand.

Kibera: Bottom-up Scheme

Peepoo project - low-cost, community-led sanitation and education.

Why improving Kibera is hard

High population growth, funding limits, land disputes, weak infrastructure.

Long-term solutions for Kibera

Charity-government collaboration, better rural opportunities, local empowerment.