| urban_environments_objectives_2018.docx |
What you'll need to know...
The characteristics and distribution of urban places, populations and economic activities
Characteristics of urban places, including site, function, land use, hierarchy of settlement (including megacities) and growth process (planned or spontaneous)
Factors affecting the pattern of urban economic activities (retail, commercial, industrial), including physical factors, land values, proximity to a central business district (CBD) and planning
Factors affecting the pattern of residential areas within urban areas, including physical factors, land values, ethnicity and planning
The incidence of poverty, deprivation and informal activity (housing and industry) in urban areas at varying stages of development
The characteristics and distribution of urban places, populations and economic activities
Characteristics of urban places, including site, function, land use, hierarchy of settlement (including megacities) and growth process (planned or spontaneous)
Factors affecting the pattern of urban economic activities (retail, commercial, industrial), including physical factors, land values, proximity to a central business district (CBD) and planning
Factors affecting the pattern of residential areas within urban areas, including physical factors, land values, ethnicity and planning
The incidence of poverty, deprivation and informal activity (housing and industry) in urban areas at varying stages of development
| urban_environments_lesson_1.pptx |
| informal-formal_sector_essay.docx |
| what_is_the_location_of_houston_economic_activity.docx |
| what_are_the_patterns_of_economic_activity_in_urban_areas.docx |
Characteristics of urban places...
What does Wikipedia Say?
An urban area is a human settlement with high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanisation and are categorised by urban morphology as cities, towns, conurbations or suburbs. In urbanism, the term contrasts to rural areas such as villages and hamlets. The creation of early predecessors of urban areas during the urban revolution led to the creation of human civilisation with modern urban planning, which along with other human activities such as exploitation of natural resources leads to human impact on the environment.
The world's urban population in 1950 of just 746 million has increased to 3.9 billion in the decades since. In 2009, the number of people living in urban areas (3.42 billion) surpassed the number living in rural areas (3.41 billion) and since then the world has become more urban than rural. This was the first time that the majority of the world's population lived in a city. In 2014 there were 7.25 billion people living on the planet, of which the global urban population comprised 3.9 billion. The Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs at that time predicted the urban population would grow to 6.4 billion by 2050, with 37% of that growth to come from three countries: China, India and Nigeria.
Task 1 - Go to this excellent UNICEF site. Read the information at the top of the graphic before pressing play and watching the growth of urban areas (note definition). Take screen shots of 1950, 2000 & 2050 and then write a piece of commentary about the growth of urban areas. You can click on any country to be given more detail. Please feel free to also use the text above.
Task 2 - Using the World City Populations interactive guide here, take a screen shot of the graphic and comment of the location of urban areas around the world experiencing rapid population growth as well as issues relating to potential future climate change (unit 1) and population displacement.
Houston, Texas
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Urban environments like Houston are diverse areas that have a multitude of modern days functions such as being the centre of business and commerce as well as home to millions of people. They have important roles to play in providing jobs and transport hubs as well as being major centres for the sports, leisure and tourism industries. Widespread urban renewal and processes of gentrification are changing the faces of the major cities around the world. Houston is a very good example of an urban area that has undergone major change, for many different reasons and will be a focus in this unit of study.
Task 3 - Watch the video beneath. Screen shot 5 modern day functions of Houston and annotate with key details.
Task 4 - Find a suitable definition of gentrification, a defining image and a recent news story about the issues surrounding gentrification in a city somewhere in the world.
Task 3 - Watch the video beneath. Screen shot 5 modern day functions of Houston and annotate with key details.
Task 4 - Find a suitable definition of gentrification, a defining image and a recent news story about the issues surrounding gentrification in a city somewhere in the world.
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Site, Function & Land Use... The site of a settlement is the land upon which it was built. There are a number of different factors that can determine the site of a settlement. These are:
Task 1 - Study a Google map of Houston and try to identify which siting factors were responsible for the growth of Houston. Task 2 -Study the land use map of Houston (right). Describe the land use patterns and functions in Houston. Ensure you make reference to: Residential Commercial Retail Concentrations Green areas See example for New York in IB Textbook Page 332-333 |
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The hierarchy of settlements... The word hierarchy means an order or an importance and can be applied to a variety of settings. Think about your school and how it works in that setting. Now think of government or a football team and you'll also see this hierarchy at work too. Task 1 - Match the following descriptions to the key term.
Range Sphere of influence High Order Goods Threshold Low Order Goods Task 2 - Create your own mega diagram that incorporates the hierarchy triangle with the information to the right. Task 3 - Now watch the video embedded beneath taking notes as you go. |
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Starter: Spend a little time exploring the Esri Story Map (link above). Pay particular attention to the increase in size of spread of the megacities in the study.
Now watch the video to the right hand side and take notes of the global patterns and trends associated with historical and future growth of megacities globally. Don't forget to make sure you know the reasons for growth. Case Study - Your focus for this piece of work in going to be Mumbai in India. You should watch the video to the right to get an idea of why the city has grown so quickly (note link to colonisation by the Portuguese) as well as modern day functions of industry, commerce and Bollywood. Task 1 - Open up GeoFile 696* (September 2013) - Mumbai: Case Study of a Megacity - and read over all the information within before completing the four questions on the back page. 
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Watch the documentary "Slumming It" (above) showing life in Mumbai's largest slum (Dharavi).
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URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS OVER TIME
Urban system growth including infrastructure improvements over time, such as transport, sanitation, water, waste disposal and telecommunications
• Case study of infrastructure growth over time in one city - case study Mumbai, India.
Using the IB Geog Textbook P352-353, read the case study of infrastructure improvements for Shanghai, China.
We are going to produce a similar case study, but for the city of Mumbai.
Sections of your case study:
1. Changes in transport infrastructure in Mumbai
2. Access to water and sanitation in Mumbai
3. Waste water treatment in Mumbai
4. Access to telecommunications in Mumbai
Urban system growth including infrastructure improvements over time, such as transport, sanitation, water, waste disposal and telecommunications
• Case study of infrastructure growth over time in one city - case study Mumbai, India.
Using the IB Geog Textbook P352-353, read the case study of infrastructure improvements for Shanghai, China.
We are going to produce a similar case study, but for the city of Mumbai.
Sections of your case study:
1. Changes in transport infrastructure in Mumbai
2. Access to water and sanitation in Mumbai
3. Waste water treatment in Mumbai
4. Access to telecommunications in Mumbai
CASE STUDY: A CHANGING URBAN ENVIRONMENT, MUMBAI
Introduction:
Mumbai is a megacity and a world city and it is the economic powerhouse of India. Since 1971, the population of Mumbai has risen from 8 million in 1971 to 21 million today. Mumbai's Central Business District is located at Nariman Point and it has a variety of functions including finance, trade, ICT, business and media.
Mumbai is an island city and it has run out of space to expand. Therefore, a new town called Navi Mumbai has been constructed across the bay to ease the pressure on the city.
1. Changes in transport infrastructure in Mumbai
You should include:
Why transport needs improvement
How different modes of transport have been improved
Include the following modes of transport: road, rail, water, air
The benefits of the changes/any problems or difficulties
From Mumbai Geofile (2013): Mumbai accounts for 40% of India’s foreign trade. The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the main aviation hub in the city and the second busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic. It handled 30.74 million passengers and 656,369 tonnes of cargo during 2011-12. The capacity of the airport is being increased to handle up to 40 million passengers annually. A new international airport has been sanctioned by the Indian Government and will help relieve the increasing burden on the existing airport.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port, which currently handles 55–60% of India’s containerised cargo, was commissioned in 1989. It is a hub port for the city and the Arabian Sea. Mumbai Port remains one of the world’s best natural harbours. It still deals with commercial cargo but has diversified into a destination for cruise ships and pleasure craft.
Mumbai is also the headquarters of two of Indian Railways’ zones: the Central Railway and the Western Railway. Therefore, the city is very well connected to most parts of India by long-distance trains.
Introduction:
Mumbai is a megacity and a world city and it is the economic powerhouse of India. Since 1971, the population of Mumbai has risen from 8 million in 1971 to 21 million today. Mumbai's Central Business District is located at Nariman Point and it has a variety of functions including finance, trade, ICT, business and media.
Mumbai is an island city and it has run out of space to expand. Therefore, a new town called Navi Mumbai has been constructed across the bay to ease the pressure on the city.
1. Changes in transport infrastructure in Mumbai
You should include:
Why transport needs improvement
How different modes of transport have been improved
Include the following modes of transport: road, rail, water, air
The benefits of the changes/any problems or difficulties
From Mumbai Geofile (2013): Mumbai accounts for 40% of India’s foreign trade. The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the main aviation hub in the city and the second busiest airport in India in terms of passenger traffic. It handled 30.74 million passengers and 656,369 tonnes of cargo during 2011-12. The capacity of the airport is being increased to handle up to 40 million passengers annually. A new international airport has been sanctioned by the Indian Government and will help relieve the increasing burden on the existing airport.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port, which currently handles 55–60% of India’s containerised cargo, was commissioned in 1989. It is a hub port for the city and the Arabian Sea. Mumbai Port remains one of the world’s best natural harbours. It still deals with commercial cargo but has diversified into a destination for cruise ships and pleasure craft.
Mumbai is also the headquarters of two of Indian Railways’ zones: the Central Railway and the Western Railway. Therefore, the city is very well connected to most parts of India by long-distance trains.
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Spontaneous Settlement Growth
Large and successful settlements have developed because of a number of favourable factors that have allowed the settlement to grow, prosper and in turn attract more people to the area. At the start of this unit, we looked at the original siting factors for settlements and how some places will never support more than a handful of houses (hamlet) whereas others have grown into megacities (Tokyo/Yokohama).
Environments that have traditionally encouraged settlement growth are located close to the sea (trade, exploration) and in temperate deciduous areas (annual leaf fall leading to good quality soil and therefore productive agriculture). They may have good links with inland areas too enabling those areas to also develop. If you study the megacities map above once again, you will see the vast majority of these urban areas are located on the coast or at the very least, on a large river a short distance from the sea.
Task 1 - Below you will see a four examples of urban models that aim to show how urban areas have grown over time. You are probably familiar with the Burgess Model (UK based) but the other three may be new to you.
Compare and contrast the growth factors in the four models. Note: Vance's model is for the United States.
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Urban Patterns
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Y12 Student Presentations: The Cycle of Urbanization:
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The factors affecting the location of residential areas in cities
| residential_areas_2018.pptx |
| residential_areas_2019.pptx |
Answer this essay question:
“Examine the factors that determine the socio-economic characteristics and location of residential areas within cities.” (10)
“Examine the factors that determine the socio-economic characteristics and location of residential areas within cities.” (10)
More help with residential areas case study detail (case study: Houston)
For the housing area that you have been given. Create a presentation and handout covering the following…
•Locate the residential area (use a map and describe the location), describe the city zone that it is located in (e.g. inner city, inner suburb, outer suburb).
•What is the level of wealth of that area? (think about cost of housing, average income, % of people living below the poverty line, percentage of owner occupied etc)
•What types of people live there? (e.g. wealth, age group, professions, ethnicity)?
•What housing types are common in that area and why?
•What is the quality of life like in that area? (e.g. quality of education, crime rates, access to services, walkability)?
•What do recent news articles say about this area? What issues is the area experiencing?
•Why is this area like it is? What factors influence the characteristics? e.g. history, land value, physical factors, ethnicity, urban residential planning etc
For the housing area that you have been given. Create a presentation and handout covering the following…
•Locate the residential area (use a map and describe the location), describe the city zone that it is located in (e.g. inner city, inner suburb, outer suburb).
•What is the level of wealth of that area? (think about cost of housing, average income, % of people living below the poverty line, percentage of owner occupied etc)
•What types of people live there? (e.g. wealth, age group, professions, ethnicity)?
•What housing types are common in that area and why?
•What is the quality of life like in that area? (e.g. quality of education, crime rates, access to services, walkability)?
•What do recent news articles say about this area? What issues is the area experiencing?
•Why is this area like it is? What factors influence the characteristics? e.g. history, land value, physical factors, ethnicity, urban residential planning etc
| houston_residential_areas.pptx |
For your neighborhood presentation handout use the file below:
| neighborhood_profile.docx |
The census data from the website below will help you complete your neighborhood profile:
https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2014/4/3/neighborhoods-by-the-numbers-april-2014
https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2014/4/3/neighborhoods-by-the-numbers-april-2014
The Location of Economic Activity
Factors affecting the pattern of urban economic activities (retail, commercial, industrial), including physical factors, land values, proximity to a central business district (CBD) and planning.
We have already looked at the location of economic activity in Mumbai. See notes below.
We will now look at the location of Economic Activity in Houston.
Task 1: Read and take notes on the factors affecting the pattern of urban economic activity (p340-344).
Task 2: Complete the table (see file below) to describe the locations and reasons for location of commercial, industrial and retail activity in the city of Houston (factors might include - physical factors, land values, proximity to a central business district (CBD) and planning).
| what_is_the_location_of_houston_economic_activity.docx |
| mumbai_economic_activity-student_fill_in_completed.docx |
| the_location_of_economic_activity.pptx |
Urban deindustrialization - Focus on Detroit...
Whilst industry is booming in many MICs and LICs asa result of outsourcing and significant Direct Foreign Investment, there have been cases of severe urban deindustrialization in other parts of the world, notably in major HIC manufacturing cities such as Sheffield, UK (Steel), Glasgow, UK (ship building) and Detroit, USA (car manufacturing). For the purposes of this section of work, we will be focusing on the USA and the city of Detroit.
To complete this case study, you will need to use the following resources:
Whilst industry is booming in many MICs and LICs asa result of outsourcing and significant Direct Foreign Investment, there have been cases of severe urban deindustrialization in other parts of the world, notably in major HIC manufacturing cities such as Sheffield, UK (Steel), Glasgow, UK (ship building) and Detroit, USA (car manufacturing). For the purposes of this section of work, we will be focusing on the USA and the city of Detroit.
To complete this case study, you will need to use the following resources:
- Top 2 videos: Causes and consequences- 22 minute Journeyman documentary & Abandoned Skyscrapers of Detroit
- Bottom 2 videos: Responses - Eminem (Promient Rapper from Detroit) & President Donald Trump.
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Timed Essay - 25 Minutes
Examine the economic, demographic and social stresses resulting from deindustrialization (10 marks)
Examine the economic, demographic and social stresses resulting from deindustrialization (10 marks)
| deindustrialisation-in-detroit-usa.pptx |
| detroit-case-study.docx |
Alternate case study: London Docklands
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Urban Stress
What you'll need to know:
Urban Heat Islands and Air Pollution
What you'll need to know:
- Urban microclimate modification and management, including the urban heat island effect, and air pollution patterns and its management - Case study of air pollution in one city and its varying impact on people
- Traffic congestion patterns, trends and impacts - Case study of one affected city and the management response
- Contested land use changes, including slum clearances, urban redevelopment and the depletion of green space - Detailed contrasting examples of two affected neighbourhoodsand their populations
- Managing the impacts of urban social deprivation, including the cycle of deprivation and geographic patterns of crime
Urban Heat Islands and Air Pollution
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What is an urban heat island?
An urban heat island is a city or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities. Urban “heat islands” - average difference between CBD and countryside = +0.6oC(morning) and +3o/4oC (evening)
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Take notes on the causes, impacts and management of the urban heat island effect, using Atlanta and/or Chicago as an example.
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Air Pollution
Read the article: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/nov/13/what-would-a-smog-free-city-look-like-air-pollution?
What can you learn about….
•The causes of air pollution
•The impacts of air pollution
•The management of air pollution
Case study of the varying impacts of air pollution: Mexico City
Read the article: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/nov/13/what-would-a-smog-free-city-look-like-air-pollution?
What can you learn about….
•The causes of air pollution
•The impacts of air pollution
•The management of air pollution
Case study of the varying impacts of air pollution: Mexico City
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| mexico_city_traffic_congestion_and_air_pollution.docx |
Traffic Congestion
Objectives:
•Traffic congestion patterns, trends and impacts
•Case study of one affected city and the management response - CS Mexico City
| traffic_congestion_factfile.docx |
Example exam questions - urban microclimates, air pollution and traffic congestion:
Examine the impacts of traffic congestion on one named city you have studied (10)
Examine a management response to traffic congestion for one named city you have studied (10)
Evaluate the success of strategies designed to manage traffic congestion in one named urban area (10)
With reference to one named example, evaluate the success of a strategy designed to manage air pollution in an urban area. (10)
Discuss the varying effects of air pollution in one named urban area (10)
Examine the effects of human activity on the climate of urban areas (10)
Examine the impacts of traffic congestion on one named city you have studied (10)
Examine a management response to traffic congestion for one named city you have studied (10)
Evaluate the success of strategies designed to manage traffic congestion in one named urban area (10)
With reference to one named example, evaluate the success of a strategy designed to manage air pollution in an urban area. (10)
Discuss the varying effects of air pollution in one named urban area (10)
Examine the effects of human activity on the climate of urban areas (10)
| urban_stress_crime.pptx |
Urban Stress
Objective: Managing the impacts of urban social deprivation, including the cycle of deprivation and geographic patterns of crime
Managing the impacts of urban social deprivation...
Detroit has experienced the impacts of deindustrialization on a city. This link from the New York Times provides an outline of the issues.
Managing Crime in Detroit
Task 1 - The cycle of deprivation model (urban deindustrialization) can be applied to Detroit. You can find information this through reading this PDF report (source).
Task 2 - This link has lots of data about crime patterns in Detroit. Study the embedded heat map carefully as well as the graphs beneath. Take notes on the key data surrounding crime in Detroit.
Task 3 - Now visit this live crime map of Detroit. This will show you incidences of crime in the last 7 days (from the day you access the site). Use the menu to search the patterns of different types of crime. Make a note of the number of recorded cases of homicide in the last 7 days.
Objective: Managing the impacts of urban social deprivation, including the cycle of deprivation and geographic patterns of crime
Managing the impacts of urban social deprivation...
Detroit has experienced the impacts of deindustrialization on a city. This link from the New York Times provides an outline of the issues.
Managing Crime in Detroit
Task 1 - The cycle of deprivation model (urban deindustrialization) can be applied to Detroit. You can find information this through reading this PDF report (source).
Task 2 - This link has lots of data about crime patterns in Detroit. Study the embedded heat map carefully as well as the graphs beneath. Take notes on the key data surrounding crime in Detroit.
Task 3 - Now visit this live crime map of Detroit. This will show you incidences of crime in the last 7 days (from the day you access the site). Use the menu to search the patterns of different types of crime. Make a note of the number of recorded cases of homicide in the last 7 days.
The map below shows Green Light Partners around the city of Detroit.
Task 4 - Are there patterns between the locations of Green Light Partners and certain types of crime as indicated by the live map in Task 3?
Task 4 - Are there patterns between the locations of Green Light Partners and certain types of crime as indicated by the live map in Task 3?
Exam question: Evaluate the responses to urban deprivation and their impacts in one urban area." (10)
URBAN STRESS CONTINUED!
CONTESTED LAND-USE CHANGES
IB Objective:
•Contested land use changes, including slum clearances, urban redevelopment and the depletion of green space
-Detailed contrasting examples of two affected neighborhoods and their populations
CONTESTED LAND-USE CHANGES
IB Objective:
•Contested land use changes, including slum clearances, urban redevelopment and the depletion of green space
-Detailed contrasting examples of two affected neighborhoods and their populations
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| sustainable_cities_for_the_future.ppt |