6.1: The Origin and Influences of Urbanization
What term refers to the geographical location and surrounding factors that influence the development of cities?
Site and situation.
What is the difference between a mega and metacities?
Megacities have at least 10 million people and metacities have at least 20 million people.
What role do world cities play in the global urban hierarchy?
World cities function at the top of the world's urban hierarchy, serving as key nodes in global networks and driving globalization.
What principle suggests that the second-largest city in a country will be approximately half the size of the largest city, the third-largest city will be one-third the size, and so on?
The rank-size rule.
Which model of urban structure suggests that cities grow outward from a central business district in a series of concentric rings, with each ring representing different land uses?
The Burgess concentric-zone model.
Explain the concept of mixed land use in urban areas and provide an example of how it can benefit a city.
Mixed land use in urban areas involves integrating a variety of residential, commercial, and recreational activities within close proximity, fostering vibrant and walkable neighborhoods. For example, a mixed-use development combining apartments, offices, shops, and parks can enhance urban livability by reducing commuting distances, promoting social interaction, and supporting local businesses.
What sustainable design initiative promotes integrating various activities such as residential, commercial, and recreational within close proximity to encourage vibrant neighborhoods?
Mixed land use.
What type of data sources provide quantitative information about changes in population composition and size in urban areas?
Census and survey data.
What are some economic and social challenges resulting from urban population movement within a city?
Challenges include housing discrimination, access to services, rising crime, environmental injustice, and the growth of disamenity zones or zones of abandonment.
What is one way to address the challenge of suburban sprawl and promote sustainable urban growth?
Slow growth policies and greenbelts.
How have changes in transportation and communication impacted urbanization?
They have facilitated the movement of people and goods, leading to the growth of cities.
Name one new land-use form created by processes such as suburbanization and sprawl.
Edge cities, exurbs, or boomburbs.
Give an example of a world city.
NYC, Tokyo, London, and Paris.
Which concept refers to the situation where one city dominates in terms of population and economic activity, overshadowing other cities in the country?
The primate city.
What urban model is characterized by a central business district surrounded by elite residential areas, followed by zones of lower-income housing extending outward toward the periphery?
The Latin American city model
Why is infilling an important concept in urban land use planning and how does it relate to sustainability?
Infilling is crucial in urban land use planning because it maximizes the use of existing infrastructure and reduces urban sprawl, preserving green spaces and minimizing environmental impact. By repurposing vacant or underutilized land within established urban areas, infilling promotes densification and walkability, contributing to a more sustainable and resource-efficient urban development.
Name a zoning practice that emphasizes the design of neighborhoods to be easily navigable on foot and encourages pedestrian-friendly environments.
Walkability.
How do quantitative data sources such as census and survey data help understand urban population dynamics?
They provide statistical information about population size, demographics, migration patterns, and other key factors influencing urban change.
What term describes informal settlements that arise within large cities, often due to lack of affordable housing?
Squatter settlements.
What term describes the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding suburban areas, often resulting in increased traffic congestion and loss of green space?
Suburban sprawl.
What are some factors that influence the growth of cities?
Population growth, migration, economic development, and government policies.
Define suburbanization and sprawl.
Suburbanization refers to the outward expansion of urban areas, sprawl describes unrestricted horizontal development.
Give an example of global businesses or organizations headquartered in New York City.
UN and Stock Exchange.
What theory proposes that the distribution and size of cities are influenced by the relative attractiveness of their locations and the distance between them?
Christaller's central place theory.
What is the main idea behind the Hoyt sector model?
The Hoyt sector model proposes that cities develop in a series of wedges or sectors radiating outward from the central business district, with certain activities concentrated along transportation routes or in specific areas.
Define urban infrastructure and give three examples of essential components.
Urban infrastructure encompasses the physical systems and facilities that support urban life, including roads, bridges, public transportation, water supply networks, and electrical grids.
What type of development focuses on creating communities where residents can live, work, and access amenities with minimal reliance on cars?
New Urbanism.
What type of data sources offer qualitative insights into individual attitudes toward urban change?
Field studies and narratives.
What are some responses to economic and social challenges in urban areas?
Responses may include inclusionary zoning policies aimed at promoting affordable housing and local food movements to improve access to nutritious food options.
How do urban areas contribute to climate change and environmental degradation?
Urban areas contribute to climate change through high levels of energy consumption, emissions from transportation and industry, and the loss of green spaces, while also impacting air and water quality through pollution.
How do government policies influence urbanization?
Government policies can incentivize or restrict urban development through zoning laws, taxation policies, and infrastructure investments.
What are some challenges associated with suburbanization and sprawl?
Challenges include increased traffic congestion, environmental degradation, loss of agricultural land, and fragmented communities.
How do world cities contribute to driving globalization?
World cities attract multinational corporations, host international organizations, facilitate cultural exchange, and serve as hubs for finance, innovation, and transportation, all of which contribute to the globalization of economies and societies.
Explain how the gravity model influences the distribution of cities.
The gravity model suggests that the size and proximity of cities determine their influence on each other, with larger cities exerting a greater gravitational pull on people, goods, and services, thereby influencing urban distribution.
According to the Harris and Ullman multiple nuclei model, how do cities develop?
Cities develop around multiple centers of activity or nuclei, each specializing in different functions such as residential, industrial, commercial, or recreational.
How does the location of infrastructure impact the spatial patterns of social development within a city?
The location of infrastructure influences social development patterns by shaping accessibility to services, opportunities, and resources, thereby impacting the distribution of economic activities and quality of life across different areas of the city.
What term describes urban planning policies that prioritize compact, sustainable development, often involving the revival of existing urban areas and the creation of walkable neighborhoods?
Smart-growth policies.
How do qualitative data sources like field studies and narratives complement quantitative data in understanding urban dynamics?
They provide in-depth insights into the lived experiences, perceptions, and attitudes of individuals and communities affected by urban change, offering context and nuance to quantitative findings.
What are some of the positive and negative consequences of urban renewal and gentrification?
Positive consequences may include neighborhood revitalization and improved infrastructure, while negative consequences may include displacement of longtime residents and loss of cultural heritage.
What are some challenges to urban sustainability related to sanitation, climate change, air and water quality, and energy use?
Challenges include inadequate waste management, increased greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and high energy consumption.
Give an example of how site and situation influence the function of a city.
A city located near a natural harbor might develop into a major port city due to its advantageous location for maritime trade.
Provide an example of a megacity or metacity located in a country of the periphery or semiperiphery.
Examples could include Lagos in Nigeria, Dhaka in Bangladesh, or Sao Paulo in Brazil.
Explain how cities such as New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo are so influential.
Cities like New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo are influential due to their status as global hubs for finance, commerce, culture, and innovation, attracting talent and investment from around the world.
Provide an example of a primate city and explain its significance in the urban hierarchy of its country.
An example could be Paris in France, which serves as the primate city and dominates the country's economic, political, and cultural landscape, overshadowing other cities and regions in France.
What does the galactic city model depict?
Harris' Galactic City Model illustrates the concept of a ring of transportation, where the urban area remains contained within this boundary. However, future urban sprawl may extend beyond this ring, prompting the need for expanded transportation infrastructure.
Explain the relationship between the quality of a city's infrastructure and its economic development.
The quality of a city's infrastructure directly impacts its economic development by affecting productivity, efficiency, and the attractiveness of the city to businesses and investors.
Name one praise for sustainable urban design initiatives such as greenbelts and slow-growth cities.
They are praised for promoting sustainable options and improving the livability of cities by preserving green spaces and natural environments.
What methods can be used to gather qualitative data about individual attitudes toward urban change?
Methods may include interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and ethnographic studies conducted in urban neighborhoods or communities.
What is an impact of government fragmentation?
Challenges addressing issues within the city.
How can farmland protection policies contribute to urban sustainability?
Farmland protection policies help preserve agricultural land from urban development, ensuring a sustainable food supply and maintaining green spaces that provide important ecosystem services.