APHUG: Unit 3

Urbanization

The process by which an increasing percentage of a population lives in cities and suburbs.

Megacity

A city with a population of over ten million people.

Gentrification

The process of improving a neighborhood by upgrading its housing and attracting new residents, often leading to displacement of lower-income residents.

Central Business District (CBD)

The area of a city where retail and office activities are clustered.

Edge City

A term introduced by Joel Garreau for new concentration of business, shopping, and entertainment outside a traditional downtown.

Multiple Nuclei Model

A model of urban land use suggesting that cities develop multiple centers (nuclei) of activity.

Sector Model

A model of urban land use proposed by Homer Hoyt which depicts urban areas as developing in sectors radiating out from the central business district.

Concentric Zone Model

An urban land use model that describes urban social structures as expanding outwards from a central point in a series of concentric rings.

Suburbanization

The growth of areas on the fringes of major cities, usually characterized by lower population density and single-family homes.

Dispersed Rural Settlement

A rural settlement pattern in which farmhouses lie far apart, with farmland in between.

Nodal Region

An area organized around a node, or focal point, often characterized by a certain activity or function.

Primate City

A city that is significantly larger than and dominates the economic, political, and cultural life of a country.

World City

A city that has global significance because of its role in economic, political, and cultural institutions.

Spatial Interaction

The movement of people, goods, or ideas between different places due to accessibility and connectivity.

Forced Migration

A type of migration that occurs when individuals or groups are compelled to leave their home due to factors like conflict or natural disasters.

Pull Factors

Positive conditions that attract people to a new area.

Push Factors

Negative conditions that drive people away from their home.

Chain Migration

A pattern of migration that occurs when individuals follow the migration path of relatives or friends to a new location.

Cultural Landscape

The visible imprint of human activity on the landscape, encompassing buildings, roads, and farmland.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Public Transportation

Transportation services that are available for use by the general public, often supported by the government.

Smart Growth

Urban planning approach that focuses on sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, including minimizing sprawl and enhancing urban spaces.

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into the surrounding rural land.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups in a society based on various factors, including wealth, income, education, and power.

Localization Economy

The benefits a company receives by being located in a particular area, often related to increased efficiency in production and distribution.

Accessibility

The ease with which locations can be reached from other locations, impacting the interaction and movement of people and goods.

Infrastructure

The basic physical systems of a business or nation, including transportation, communication, sewage, water, and electric systems.

Land Use Planning

The process of evaluating and regulating how land is used to optimize environmental, economic, and social outcomes.