Urbanization and Cities

Site:
- Definition: The physical characteristics of a location such as
- Landforms
- Water resources
- Natural resources
Situation:
- Definition: The location of a place relative to other places, e.g.,
- Proximity to rivers
- Accessibility via highways
Urbanization:
- Definition: The process whereby an increasing number of people move into cities, contributing to their growth.
- Impact on society: Changes in demographics, economy, and infrastructure.

Megacities:
- Definition: Urban areas with a population exceeding 10 million.
- Examples: Tokyo, Delhi.
Metacities:
- Definition: Cities with populations over 20 million.
- Examples: Tokyo, Shanghai.
Periphery:
- Definition: Countries that are less developed, often characterized by lower income and infrastructure.
Semi-periphery:
- Definition: Countries that are in between fully developed and developing (e.g., Brazil, India).
Suburbanization:
- Definition: The movement of people from urban centers to suburban areas, often linked to urban sprawl.
Urban sprawl:
- Definition: The expansion of urban areas into rural spaces, leading to messy and often unplanned growth.
Urban decentralization:
- Definition: The process of moving businesses and populations away from the central downtown areas to outer areas.
Edge city:
- Definition: A developed area with offices, shopping, and recreational facilities outside the main city.
- Example: Tysons Corner in Virginia.
Exurb:
- Definition: Regions beyond suburbs characterized by a more rural lifestyle.
Boomburb:
- Definition: A suburb that grows rapidly and exhibits characteristics similar to a city.

World city:
- Definition: A city that serves as a significant center of global commerce, culture, and politics.
- Examples: New York, London.
Urban hierarchy:
- Concept: Cities ranked based on their size and global significance, influencing their economic and social dynamics.
Globalization:
- Definition: The process of increasing interconnectedness across nations due to trade, technology, and migration.

Rank-size rule:
- Concept: The population size of cities in a system decreases in a consistent pattern where the second-largest city is half the size of the largest, the third is one-third the size, etc.
Primate city:
- Definition: A city that is significantly larger and more influential than any other in the country.
- Example: Bangkok in Thailand.
Gravity model:
- Concept: Larger cities attract more interaction and influence than smaller, more distant cities.
Christaller's central place theory:
- Idea: Explains the arrangement of towns and cities based on the availability of services and market area considerations.

Burgess concentric-zone model:
- Description: A model depicting urban growth in concentric circles with the central business district at the core.
Hoyt sector model:
- Description: Urban expansion occurs in wedges or sectors emanating out from the center.
Harris and Ullman multiple nuclei model:
- Description: Suggests that cities develop multiple centers which serve as zones of activity, rather than a single downtown area.
Galactic city model:
- Description: Cities organized in a spread-out fashion where suburbs connect to highways, resembling a circular layout.
Bid-rent theory:
- Concept: Land value is highest near the city center and decreases as distance from the center increases, influencing urban land use.
Latin American city model:
- Description: Reflects colonial influences, characterized by a wealthy center juxtaposed with impoverished peripheries.
Southeast Asian city model:
- Description: Urban growth occurs in response to port access and transportation routes.
African city model:
- Description: Comprises a blend of colonial, traditional, and market areas, illustrating diverse influences on urban structure.