2A geography

• The main types of urban areas are cities, towns, conurbations, and megacities.
• Megacity refers to the largest city in the world, currently Tokyo, Japan.
• Urbanization is the process by which people move from rural areas to live in towns and cities.
• Push factor: Lack of employment opportunities
• pull factors - reasons why people choose to go somewhere else
• Natural increase- birth rate higher than death rate
• Rapid population growth can lead to increased demand for goods and services, resulting in higher levels of consumption and production.
• Rapid population growth can lead to overcrowding, pollution, and increased demand for resources such as water and electricity.
• Absence of good education, poor medical care, war/political conflict
• good healthcare, access to electricity/water supply, better job opoortunities
• Rio urbanisation- migration, urban to rural migration, push factors
• rio national importance- 6% nationwide employment, highest income per head in the country, third largest metropolitan area in Brazil
• rio international importance- home to Christ the redeemer wonder of the world, hosted 2016 olympics and 2014 FIFA world cup
• Squatter Settlements : Clusters of temporary housing which migrants or low income families live in, often built on unfavourable land.
• sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• brownfield sites- areas of previously developed land which are often derelict and have potential for redevelopment
• greenfield sites: areas of land that have not been previously built- usually farmland on rural urban fringe
• positives of brownfield sites

  • lots of available brownfield sites due to decline in manufacturing industry
  • already existing resources
  • located near main areas of employment
• negative of brownfield sites:

  • more expensive to build on, demolish old site, clean harmful chemicals
  • negative reputation on area
  • high levels of pollution
  • land is more expensive
• positive of greenfield sites:

  • less expensive to build on
  • land is relatively easy to change and build on
  • pleasant environment, attract buyers
  • less restrictions, no roads
• negative of greenfield sites:

  • animals lose habitats, green spaces permanently lost
  • urban sprawl
  • public transport is worse
  • valuable farmland
• urban sprawl- the unplanned growth of urban areas into the surrounding countryside
• greenbelt- green areas with strict building controls
• commuter town- a residential area where people travel to work in another place
• spiral of decline-

  1. high unemployment
  2. people have less money, opportunities
  3. people spend less money in the area
  4. less tax paid to the council
  5. less money invested into housing, roads and education
  6. young people get worse qualifications

  
• how has migration affected the character of London-?

  international: accepting, multi cultural, diverse, vibrant , liberal

  international + national: busy, crowded, stressful, dirty
• challenges of urban growth in Rio-

  • waste- roads are difficult to drive waste collection vehicles to collect waste
  • air pollution- city is covered in brown smog
  • crime- high gang crime (related to drugs)
• problems in favelas-

  • poor quality housing
  • lack of water supply, sewage, electricity
  • densely populated- easy to transmit disease
  • low income (informal economy - £60/month)
• how has the Favela Bairro project improved quality of life in Rio for the urban poor?

  • improved clean water supply, improved health and sanitation, increased life expectancy
  • 26000 residents lives improved in Complexo de Alemao
  • new healthcare, education and leisure centres
  • promotes/encourages employment
  • improves lives in 178 favelas
• SOCIAL opportunities for people in Rio

  • better education, enabled 95% of children to be liberate
  • (SUS) national healthcare system
• ECONOMIC opportunities for people in Rio

  • better jobs across different industries
  • Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary
• why are cities in the UK located where they are? PHYSICAL

  • rainfall, temperature, relief
  • better climate, lower chance of flooding, agriculture, housing, more pleasant climate
• why are cities in the UK located where they are? ECONOMIC

  • high average wage
  • more job opportunities, e.g. jobs and services
• why is London an important city? NATIONAL

  • capital city of the UK, UK's wealthiest city (30% of GDP)
  • runs country from house of parliament in London
  • largest city
• why is London an important city? INTERNATIONAL

  • has 5 airports, Heathrow is the 7th busiest airport in the world
  • the London stock exchange 6th largest in the world
  • home to 46 universities, 25% international students
• what opportunities has urban change in London created??

  cultural mix- more culturally diverse

  integrated transport- reduced journey times, interchanging stations, improved property value by 10%

  employment- 90000 new jobs, docklands is financial hub of London

  urban greening- increased quality of life, encourages exercise, creates job, increases tourism, reduces pollution, provides habitats
• what challenges has urban change created in London??

  urban inequality and deprivation- deprived of adequate housing, services, unemployment, spiral of decline

  dereliction- many brownfield and greenfield sights

  housing crisis- lack affordable housing

  sewage and waste disposal- 61% of waste is recycled, many E-waste, methane produced from anaerobic decomposition
• changes in regeneration of Stratford-?

  social- new school built for 1800 students, 2800 new homes, new bus route, Stratford station

  economic- shopping centre, stadium, olympic park brings in tourism and money into the area, more jobs, breaks spiral of decline

  environmental- queen Elizabeth II park, cleared waterways, creates new natural habitats
• solutions to London's traffic congestion 1-

  bus lanes

  • have their own lanes to make taking bus more attractive
  • buses will be faster, less cars on road, less emissions
  • negative: bus lanes could be used for cars
• solutions to London's traffic congestion 2-

  congestion charge

  • drivers pay daily charge (£15) to enter certain areas of C London
  • makes driving unattractive, less cars on road
  • encourages people to drive electric cars
  • difficult for poor people (expensive)