Urban Areas: Effects of Rapid Urban Growth
Pollution and conflict over land use change
Syllabus:
| Urban settlements | |
| Candidates should be able to:Describe and give reasons for the characteristics of, and changes in, land use in urban areasExplain the problems of urban areas, their causes and possible solutions | Further GuidanceLand use zones including the Central Business District (CBD), residential areas, industrial areas and the rural-urban fringe of urban areas in countries at different levels of economic developmentThe effect of change in land use and rapid urban growth in an urban area including the effects of urban sprawlDifferent types of pollution (air, noise, water, visual), inequality, housing issues, traffic congestion and conflicts over land use change |
| Case Study required for 1.6An urban area or areas | |
Consequences of Rapid Urban Growth
Urban decay : Occurs when parts of the city become run down and undesirable to live or work in.
Examples of urban decay
- Slum housing (outside toilets, overcrowding, no hot water and central heating)
- Buildings empty and in need of repair
- Areas with knocked down buildings and turned into derelict (poor conditions) land
Urban Sprawl: Expansion of poorly developed areas due to population increase. Creates large distances between workplaces and homes. Causes:
- Lack of city planning
- Rapid population growth
- Low budget subsidies for infrastructure improvements
As towns and cities increase in size, they become stressful and difficult places to live in. Some places become run down and undesirable to live or work in.
- As more people come in, efforts to provide more homes, services, transportation and jobs become difficult
- Major problems faced by authorities:
- Air, noise, water and visual pollution
- Inequality between the rich and poor
- Poor quality housing and the growth of squatter settlements
- Traffic congestion
The growth on urban areas is unable to catch up with the growth of population. This has resulted in many problems within these urban areas:
- Urban migration puts great strain on infrastructure
- Public services struggle to meet the influx in demand
- Road networks
- Public Transports
- Power
- Piped water supplies
- Sewage supplies
- Healthcare
- Education
- Increase in different types of pollution (e.g Air, noise)
Solutions to Urban decay and Sprawl
Comprehensive Redevelopment: When buildings in an area are completely knocked down and rebuilt back up. For example:
- Demolishing old buildings and factories and replacing them with new flats and multi-storey buildings
- However this forces people to move from their established communities and workplaces
Urban Regeneration: The renovation of existing housing and improvements to the environment and the economy. Examples:
- Rewiring housing and planting central heating
- Improving the environment by landscaping
- Building or improving the social facilities such as clubs or medical centres
- Encouraging new businesses and industries to set up in the area (through grants or loans)
Case Study – Cairo (consequences and solutions to urban growth)
Consequences: Problems faced by planners in Cairo
| Lack of Housing: | Self-built housing built illegally on farmlands. Cover 80% of CairoPeople forced to build in cultural sitesHousing built on roofs |
| Traffic Congestion: | Travel to work is slower which reduces economic activityNumber of cars rose from 100,000 to 1 million between 1970 and 2000 |
| Lack of Jobs: | Jobs for unskilled workers are hard to findPoor people forced to work in informal sector |
| Pollution: | Air is heavily polluted by vehicle exhaust |
| New infrastructure: | New satellite and dormitory towns built around the cityPlans of a new city which could house over 5 millionHomes and public services were improved in less developed areas |
| Transport Options: | Ring road built, encircling the city A modern metro system was built |
| Waste management | People with donkeys carts are licensed to collect and recycle garbageThe Greater Cairo Wastewater Project, extension and repair of sewage systems |
Case Study – Mumbai (Dharavi)
Over 20 million people lived in Mumbai in 2016, compared to less than 10 million in 1991. Mumbai has had a high level of natural growth and rural to urban migration. A consequence of such rapid urbanization is the development of squatter settlements:
An area of makeshift housing
- Usually unplanned
- Often built illegally
The Squatter Settlements, Dharavi, houses over 1 million people however has many unwanted characteristics:
- Overcrowded, noisy, full of waste
- Houses made of weak materials (e.g wood)
- Lack of sanitation and clean water
- Pollution and disease is common (4000 cases of typhoid and diphtheria)
Solutions toward the Squatter Settlements: A project called Vision Mumbai
- Involves replacing squatter settlements with high rise buildings
- Government also wants to add more public and private services (e.g health centers, better roads and shops)
- Estimated cost of £2 billion
The benefits of the rebuilding:
- Dharavi sits near Mumbai’s economic center
- Land value is very high
- Near Mumbai airport
- Prime area for housing and shops
However this creates problems for the residents as this project can ruin many livelihoods.
- Dharavi has a large sense of community
- Many residents have local jobs and shops within the slum where they provide for the community
- Many residents live accomplished lives or of middle class wage even though they have poor living standards
A form of Urban regeneration may prove to be more effective then rebuilding Dharavi. This way, the area will become more visually appealing and have higher living condition. This will also maintain the community and jobs in the area.
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