Urbanisation and megacities

Outline causes of decentralisation in urban areas.

Figure 5a and Figure 5b are in the insert.

Figure 5a shows the Global Power City Index (GPCI) score for selected world cities from 2015 to 2022.

Figure 5b shows the breakdown of the GPCI score for the selected world cities in 2022.

Analyse the data shown in Figure 5a and Figure 5b.

Figure 6a and Figure 6b are in the insert.

Figure 6a is a map of Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, a fortress development in Florida, USA.

Figure 6b shows photographs of a security gate and members of the security patrol at the Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, Florida, USA.

Using Figure 6a, Figure 6b and your own knowledge, examine how this development fits the characteristics of fortress developments.

Assess the relative importance of factors contributing to a sustainable city.

‘Impacts of changes to the carbon cycle will make managing environmental problems in urban areas more difficult.’

To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Outline how the rise of the service economy has led to urban change.

Figure 5 is in the insert.

Figure 5 shows the GDP per capita and the percentage of total population living in urban areas in selected countries in 2016.

Analyse the data shown in Figure 5.

Figures 6a and 6b are in the insert.

Figure 6a shows photochemical pollution over Mexico City in 2013.

Figure 6b shows a 2016 report about Mexico City’s pollution reduction policies.

Using Figure 6a, Figure 6b and your own knowledge, evaluate the success of pollution reduction policies in cities such as Mexico City.

‘The success of recycling schemes to reduce waste in urban areas depends on the economic characteristics and attitudes of the population.’

How far do you agree with this view?

Assess the relative importance of physical and human factors in creating patterns of economic inequality in contrasting urban areas you have studied.

Outline the role that world cities play in the global economy.

Figures 5a and 5b are in the insert.

Figure 5a shows the change in population in inner and outer London between 1800 and 2018.

Figure 5b shows the year of peak population in London boroughs.

Analyse the data shown in Figure 5a and Figure 5b.

Figures 6a and 6b are in the insert.

Figure 6a shows the world’s most liveable cities in 2018.

Figure 6b shows an aerial photograph of Vienna’s suburbs.

Using Figure 6a, Figure 6b and your own knowledge, assess the factors that contribute to cities such as these scoring highly on the liveability index.

Using an example you have studied, assess the impact of a river restoration project on urban drainage.

‘Strategies used to manage issues associated with economic inequality are usually unsuccessful.’

With reference to two contrasting urban areas that you have studied, how far do you agree with this statement?

Outline how one urban pollution reduction policy has been implemented.

Figure 5 is in the insert.

Figure 5 shows the change in life expectancy along the number 83 bus route in Sheffield, a city in the UK. The index of multiple deprivation is also shown on the map.

Analyse the data shown in Figure 5.

Figure 6 is in the insert.

Figure 6 is an OS map extract of Plymouth, a city on the south west coast of England.

Using Figure 6 and your own knowledge, assess the importance of physical factors in affecting urban form.

Assess the role of technological processes leading to the growing number of global megacities.

To what extent do you agree that urban drainage presents more opportunities than challenges in developing more sustainable cities?

Which of the following is a cause of counter-urbanisation?

A Some inner-city areas have undergone gentrification, whereby people buy run-down properties and turn them into luxurious homes. This causes house prices to rise.

B New technology such as Skype and conference calls allow people to work from home, enabling them to live a much greater distance from their place of work.

C The closure of coal mines meant that many miners’ families had to leave the pit villages. They moved to the local towns and cities, working in low-skilled jobs in retail parks.

D The local shops in many commuter villages are forced to close as the residents living in the new housing estates shop nearer to their places of work in the cities.

Choose the description that best fits the present global pattern of urbanisation.

A The most urbanised regions include North America (82%), Latin America and the Caribbean (80%) and Europe (73%).

B The fastest rate of urbanisation is found in Latin America which is projected to increase to 91% by 2030.

C Growth is projected to rise fastest in North America and Europe, with just three countries accounting for most of the growth – UK, USA and Germany.

D The most urbanised regions are Asia (82%), Africa (80%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (71%).

Which of the following would not be an appropriate technique for a sustainable city?

A Using green roofs on houses to increase levels of infiltration.

B Building a dual carriageway across the city to ease traffic congestion.

C Government subsidies to encourage the use of solar panels.

D Increasing pedestrianisation to reduce car use.

Choose the hydrograph below that would most accurately represent an urban catchment.

Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are in the insert.

Figure 5a shows the percentage of low-paid residents in each London borough in 2015–16. Figure 5b shows the percentage of waste that was recycled in each London borough in 2015–16. Figure 5c shows a Spearman’s rank calculation used to study whether there is a relationship between the proportion of low-paid residents and rates of recycling in London boroughs in 2015–16.

Analyse the data shown in Figures 5a, 5b and 5c.

Figure 6a shows an example of a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) using swales in Upton, Northampton. Figure 6b shows the possible benefits of SUDS.

Using Figure 6a and your own knowledge, evaluate the use of SUDS in achieving the benefits shown in Figure 6b.

For one urban area you have studied, to what extent are environmental problems a consequence of globalisation?

With reference to two contrasting urban areas, assess the role played by the process of suburbanisation in creating patterns of economic and social wellbeing.

Select the correct pair of consequences that result from the development of edge cities.

A Gentrification of inner-city areas Social segregation

B Deindustrialisation
Increased photo-chemical pollution

C Loss of rural habitats
Gentrification of inner-city areas

D Social segregation
Loss of rural habitats

Choose the correct definition for urbanisation from the list below.

A The increasing number of people living in towns and cities

B The increasing proportion of the population living in towns and cities

C The movement of people from inner city areas into the suburbs

D An increase in the number of megacities in a given region

Which of the following describes the process of decentralisation?

A It is now cheaper to manufacture steel in China due to the nearby availability of raw materials and large low-cost supply of labour. This has resulted in the closure of steel plants such as Tata Steel in Redcar.

B In Notting Hill, individuals moved into large slum houses and began to redevelop them. House prices began to rise and landlords, realising they could make a quick profit, sold these houses to private property developers. There are also many boutiques and gastropubs in the area.

C Decline in manufacturing in the UK has led to the rise of the service economy in urban areas. This has occurred due to the increased technology demands of a consumer society. As a result more people work in quaternary-based ICT industries than manufacturing.

D In the UK, the government encouraged the relocation of government agencies and public bodies away from London. Examples include the DVLA relocating to Swansea and the BBC moving to Media City in Salford.

Which of the following is an accurate description of characteristics of the water cycle in an urban area?

A Increased infiltration, increased precipitation, increased baseflow

B Reduced throughflow, decreased surface runoff, reduced precipitation

C Decreased infiltration, increased surface runoff, reduced throughflow

D Decreased surface runoff, decreased infiltration, decreased baseflow

Figure 5a, on the insert, shows a map of Portland, a city in north-west USA. Figure 5b, on the insert, shows the urban heat island effect for Portland in June 2015.

Analyse the data shown in Figure 5a and Figure 5b.

Figures 6a and 6b are images of Vancouver, a city in western Canada. Figure 6c shows the ethnicity of Vancouver residents. Figure 6d shows employment in Vancouver by sector in 2015.

Using Figures 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and your own knowledge, assess the extent to which you agree that Vancouver is an example of a post-modern western city.

Evaluate the relative importance of strategies used to develop sustainable cities in overcoming environmental problems for one urban area you have studied.

‘Britain’s urban regeneration policies since 1979 have failed to address problems of economic inequality and social segregation. The gap between the richest and the poorest urban residents has widened.’

To what extent do you agree with this statement?