urbanisation

• main causes:

  1. rural to urban migration: when people move from the countryside to towns and cities due to push and/or pull factors
  2. natural increase: when the birth rate is naturally higher than the death rate because of better healthcare or multiplier effect
• growth in megacities


  • multiplier effect: there are more jobs so more people want to migrate there. this causes a higher demand for goods and services which provides more jobs.
  • economies of scale: there is a smaller distance to travel which means there are financial savings in terms of transport and it's easier to communicate
  • economic development: when growth in secondary and tertiary sector is fast, so is urbanisation
  • population growth: population can come from natural increase or rural to urban migration therefore a supply of labour is needed
• problems with rapid urbanisation in emerging countries


  • housing: when too many people, there may not be enough houses so they have to live in informal settlements
  • traffic congestion: it can become too overloaded/crowded which brings more smog and pollution
  • education: lack of schools means children have to help with work to provide for their family
  • employment: many newcomers can't find work so they have to work in the informal sector (not taxed nor monitored)
• the informal sector is a part of the economy that is not monitored by the government nor is it taxed.

  low and fluctuating pay, often dangerous, no tax so local economy doesn't benefit

  e.g. street sellers, market traders, waste pickers
• urban pollution

  • burning of fuelwood (air pollution)
  • congested traffic (air pollution)
  • toilets and factories (water pollution)
• sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• Public transport in Curitiba


  1. 5 main arterial roads to speed up journey for commuters and carry more people

  2. Prepaid express buses move people quickly

  3. Wider doors which is accessible for disabled and means people can get on and off quicker- less idling

  Curitiba has a very low pollution rate and buses are always full
• Housing in Curitiba

  • Too many slums so schemes have been introduced
  • COHAB provides 50,000 homes
  • People get paid low interest funds to help build houses with education, electricity and water
  • Improves quality of life and community spirit
• Waste disposal in Curitiba


  1. More people migrating means a lot more waste but also provides jobs

  2. 'The green exchange' people in slums trade in their organised rubbish for food and bus tickets

  3. Curitiba recycle 2/3 of their rubbish- reduces landfill and is cheaper
• london sustainablity

  • transport

  strategy: ULEZ limits certain cars in certain areas by charging £12; electric buses; congestion charge for cars driving in zone 1

  stakeholder: local councils, mayor, NGOs, TFL

  how?: reduces CO2 emissions, better air quality

  • recycling

  strategy: use more biodegradable and recyclable material, coloured bins

  stakeholder: government, local councils, NGOs, recycling companies

  how?: boosts recycling rates

  • housing

  strategy: more affordable houses being built

  stakeholder: mayor, housing minister, government, NGOs
• BEDZED


  • houses face south and have ventilators- doesn't use electricity and south facing means more sunlight in winter
  • solar panels- produces waste energy and a renewable source of energy
  • 15% of 3400 tonnes of construction material were recycled- reduces disposal costs
  • dual-flush toilets- reduce water consumption
• urban fringe


  PROS:

  • cheaper and bigger houses
  • large factories
  • accessible (close to main roads)

  CONS:

  • expensive, old buildings
  • poor air quality
• non residential developments

  • retail parks (large shopping centers)- lots of parking, next to main roads
  • industrial estates (an area devoted to factories)- accessible and spacious
  • science parks (devoted to scientific research)
  • business parks (offices grouped together)
  • NGP- close to schools and work
• 1. agglomeration: the concentration of people and economic activity at favourable locations
  2. suburbanisation: population expanding from central urban areas to suburbs
  3. conurbanisation: to joining of several urban areas to form a huge sprawling
  4. commuter settlements: people move out of cities to live in smaller settlements
  5. counter-urbanisation: certain groups leave urban areas for rural areas