URBAN PLACES

Urban Places – Outcomes

These are the outcomes you need to address for the Urban Places topic. You shouldensure that you can adequately address all the the outcomes below.

Can you:• explain the changing nature, spatial patterns and interaction of urban places?• analyse contemporary urban dynamics and applies them in specific contexts?• evaluate environmental management strategies in terms of ecological sustainability?• evaluate the impacts of, and responses of people to, environmental change? • justify geographical methods applicable and useful in the workplace and relevant to a

changing world?• plan geographical inquiries to analyse and synthesise information from a variety of

sources?• evaluate geographical information and sources for usefulness, validity and reliability?• apply maps, graphs and statistics, photographs and fieldwork to analyse and integrate

data in geographical contexts?• apply mathematical ideas and techniques to analyse geographical data?• explain geographical patterns, processes and future trends through appropriate case

studies and illustrative examples?• communicate complex geographical information, ideas and issues effectively, using

appropriate written and/or oral, cartographic and graphic forms?

Urban Places – ContentYou have learnt about:

World cities• the nature, character and spatial distribution of world cities• the role of world cities as powerful centres of economic and cultural authority• the operation of global networks• the relationships of dominance and dependence between world cities and other urban centres and the changing role

of regional centres and the demise of the small town.

Mega cities• the nature, character and spatial distribution of mega cities in the developing world• the challenges of living in mega cities such as housing, traffic infrastructure, water and power supplies, sanitation

services, employment, and other social and health issues• the responses to these challenges such as self-help projects, community self-government, cooperation from NGOs,

urban protest and the operations of informal economies.

Urban dynamics• the urban dynamics of change: suburbanisation, exurbanisation, counterurbanisation, decentralisation, consolidation,

urban decay, urban renewal, urban village, spatial exclusion• a case study of the results of the urban dynamics in a large city selected from the developed world including its

– social structure and spatial patterns of advantage and disadvantage, wealth and poverty, ethnicity– changing economic character, nature and location of residential land, commercial and industrial development– culture of place as expressed in the architecture, streetscape, heritage architecture, noise, colour, street life,

energy, vitality and lifestyles– growth, development, future trends and ecological sustainability

• a case study showing one of the urban dynamics listed above, operating in a country town or suburb.

Urban Places - overview

• World cities - London case study• Regional centres • Decline of small towns – various case studies• Mega-cities – challenges of living in mega-

cities, responses to challenges, Mexico case study

• Urban dynamics – Sydney case study• An urban dynamic operating in a country

town or suburb – Bathurst case study

Rates of Urbanisation• More and more people are attracted

to city centres globally.• Two centuries ago less than 5% of

the world’s population lived in cities and towns. Today that figure approaches 50%.

• The number of cities with a population over 1 million has increased from 2 in 1850, to 109 in 1970, and is expected to be 380 in 2010.

Key terms

World City: a city that has global and national significance

Mega city: a very large agglomeration of at least 8 million people

Urbanisation: an increase in the proportion of a country’s population living in urban areas.

WORLD CITIES

Nature, Character and Spatial distribution

The emergence of the global (or world) city reflects the internationalisation of economic activity and a spatially dispersed but globally integrated organization of production and consumption. Only a few major cities are able to exercise global control, e.g. London, New York, and Tokyo (predominantly in developed countries)

Spatial Distribution of World Cities

There are three dominant world cities that are the leaders in the global financial market as well as having other important global functions. They are New York, London and Tokyo. Two cities that have a major importance for the regions in which they are located are Los Angeles (Pacific Rim) and Frankfurt (western Europe). The other world cities on the map shown here are important hubs serving their localities

Spatial Distribution of world cities

The Operation of Global Networks

The networking of large cities at the global-national level results from corporate organization within the global economy. There are a range of sub-systems:

• An Asian sub-system• A North American sub-system• A West European sub-system• Southern Hemisphere sub-system

How are global networks linked together?

World cities are supported by and connected to one another by:

- a very comprehensive transportation system

- an extensive information network- Telecommunication networks

The Role of World Cities

World cities are intrinsically linked to globalisation. Globalisation is the development of stronger links between countries and the breaking down of any existing barriers as a result of technological communication. World Cities are:

centres of production centres of consumption centres of exchange centres of corporate and political decision-

making Centres of culture

Cultural CentresCulturally, world cities have many historical, cultural and scenic activities for tourists and residents. World cities usually have fine theatres, opera houses, and museums which host large cultural events such as art exhibitions and sporting venues hosting major sporting tournaments.

Political Centres• Parliament buildings are located in world cities,

and as such political decisions are made in these cities.

• World cities contain the headquarters of many non-government organisations such as United Nations and Greenpeace.

Centres of Finance

World cities are centres for banking and other financial services. The largest banks in the world have their headquarters located in world cities. For example: New York, Citigroup and Chase Manhattan; London, HSBC Holdings and Barclays PLC; and Tokyo, Bank of Tokyo, Mitsubishi and Dai-Ichi Bank. All of the major stock exchanges are located in world cities, for example 'Wall Street' in New York.

Headquarters of TNCs

World cities are often the basis of transnational and national corporations that greatly influence the global economy, and particularly dominate world trade. They decide where, when and how much production of a particular product takes place.

Dominance and Dependence

• A few multi-functional cities dominate nationally and globally

• Dominance has emerged as a result of increasing concentration of finance, insurance and banking companies in cities, along with the centralisation of political and administrative decisions.

• World centres are dependent on small centres for primary production.

Case Study: London

World Cities Case study: London

London is one of the world’s most important financial and cultural centres. London is noted for its museums, performing arts, exchange and commodity markets, and insurance and banking functions, as well as a host of specialised services.

Population• About 78% of London’s population are Anglo-Saxon.

Major ethnic groups include Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis. Since the 1950s the population of London has declined as many have moved to the suburbs on the outskirts of London.

A centre for the economy

• Service industries account for 60% of total employment (banking, insurance, civil service, transportation, education, food and drink, publishing, retailing, tourism, etc).

• Greater London possesses the country’s greatest concentration of professional, technical, and administrative occupations, as well as the highest average income in Britain.

Centres of productionThe Port of London, the major docks of which are

located just downstream from London Bridge, provides access to raw materials and markets. London is one of Europe’s largest sea ports and handles virtually every type of commodity and cargo.

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Centres of exchange

centres of consumption

Corporate and political decision-making

Sites of political significance include:

• Houses of Parliament

• Westminster Abbey

Centres of culture

Write a paragraph describing the impact of globalisation on large urban centres.

Explain the nature, character and spatial distribution of world cities.

Analyse the role of world cities as powerful centres of economic and cultural authority

Select a city of at least 2 million people. Outline the role of the city and its changing relationships with its hinterland and other centres.

Explain the operation of global networks of large cities.

REGIONAL CENTRES AND THE DECLINE OF SMALL

TOWNS

Regional Centres

Increasingly regional centres are acting like sponges, sucking populations, employment, and populations from small towns.

Dubbo

Dubbo in central-western NSW is one of Australia’s fastest growing inland provincial cities. Dubbo lies at the junction of road transport routes which link Sydney to Perth and Melbourne to Brisbane. It is central to a large part of inland NSW and is best likened to a sponge, soaking up population and services from surrounding areas, including towns such as Gilgandra to the north. The town now has grown to be a hinterland centre, providing services such as banking, stock selling as well as government offices. Unlike many NSW towns which have lost a manufacturing industry, Dubbo now sustains small manufacturing activities such as a winery, and local wool scour and breweries. The growth of Dubbo is reasonably typical of the larger regional centres and is an exception to the rule of rural decline in NSW.

The demise of the small townWhy have small towns declined?• People are attracted to city areas by the prospect of

better health care, schools, jobs, and quality of life.• The involvement of large corporations in farming and

agriculture has forced many small, family owned farms to cease operation.

Impacts of decline of small towns and rural areas:• Decline in population leads to reduced educational and

health services.• Increasingly aged population (with reliance on private

motor vehicles)• Formation of regional groups to tackle issues such as

resource management, marketing, tourism, infrastructure.

• State Governments have restructured local governments and merged smaller councils into regional councils.

• Many towns have changed from being around industry to being tourism -based.

Examples of small towns in decline

Gilgandra - a small farming town, with limited resources, is feeling the effect of the growth of regional centres such as Dubbo.Kiandra - 1860-1861 had a population of about 15 000, due to gold discoveries and the subsequent Gold Rush. As gold findings diminished so did the population. Berry - previously a town based around Kangaroo Valley butter and cheeses (farming, labourers, transporting, etc). The opening of the Wollongong steelworks and the mechanisation of agricultural labour led to its demise. The town is now an important heritage site.Broken Hill - was the most important mining town in NSW. Due to the decline in importance in mining, many of the mines are no longer functioning.

Explain the changing role of regional centres and the demise of

the small town

MEGACITIES

Mega CitiesNature, Character and distribution

at least 8 million inhabitantsExamples: Lima, Buenos Aires, Rio De Janeiro,

Dhaka, Bangkok, Sao Paulo, Mumbai, Bangalore, Istanbul, Beijing, Dehli, Seoul.

Mega cities occur as a result of rapid urbanisation. Factors contributing to rapid urbanisation include drought, better medicines and health care in cities, more schools and better educational facilities in cities, famine, unemployment in rural areas,

Most mega cities are in Asia and South America, followed by Africa.

The growth of mega cities in the developing world is linked to the growth of manufacturing

The informal employment sector supports many who live in mega cities. The informal sector includes those forms of employment which are outside the usual. They do not pay tax on earnings. Examples include street vendors, prostitutes, hawkers, rubbish pickers.

Mega Cities

Challenges of living in Mega Cities

unemployment/ underemployment

power for cooking

nourishing and affordable food

toilets and sewerage

garbage collection

clean water

transport

medical care

Mega Cities

Response to challenges of living in Mega Cities

Self-help projects

Protest groups

NGOs

Neighbourhood cooperatives

Community self government

Informal economies

Mega Cities Case study - Mexico City

Physical setting:

• lies in a 7500km2 bowl-shaped basin

• Surrounded by snow-capped mountains

• City occupies and now-dry lake.

Mega Cities Case study - Mexico City

Population growth:• Population exceeds 17.5 million• Rapid rate of urbanisation/rural-urban

migration• Rural-urban migration continues at about

1000 migrants a day.• Has a young population, and as a result a

high rate of natural increase• Birth control campaigns are hindered by

religious beliefs (anti-birth control) and machismo.

• Reasons for rural-urban migration include:• Seeking work• Displacement• Chance for a better/longer life• Public utilities, education and health

services

Mega Cities case study: Mexico City

Social and spatial inequalities• A dichotomy exists between the affluent

section of the population and the poorest section of the population

• Rich:– Live in palatial mansions– Enjoy entertainment such as

operas, orchestras, bullfights, etc.• Poor:

– Thousands of beggars– Rubbish pickers - go through and

sell rubbish– 28% of families live in single

roomed homes (generally 5per family)

– 47% of families lack the necessary income to purchase or rent a dwelling

– Urban poor have been forced to construct their own dwellings in self-help settlements

Mega Cities case study: Mexico CityWith a population of 18 million, the Mexico City Metropolitan Area ranks as one of the world's largest "megacities." Rapid and haphazard urbanization, however, has led to myriad problems: informal housing settlements and slums, a chaotic pattern of land use, severe traffic congestion, and chronic air pollution. The city cannot meet the growing transport needs and health requirements of its citizens.

Challenges of living in Mexico City• Unemployment• Poverty• Lack of housing• Traffic congestion• Air pollution• Earthquakes• Subsidence• Inadequate urban infrastructure

Mega Cities case study: Mexico City

• All citizens, wealthy and poor, are exposed to air pollution from industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust. Mexico City exceeds air quality limits the vast majority of days, every year. Smog hovers over the city for days at a time until rain washes it away or a strong wind can blow it out.

• Few main traffic routes bring commuters from outlying areas into the city. Cars, trucks, taxis, "colectivos," and buses clog these main highways from morning until evening. "Rush hour" has become a permanent condition in Mexico City.

Mega Cities case study: Mexico City• Haphazard development and a lack of

affordable housing compound the city's transport problems, pushing poorer citizens into lesser quality housing on the fringes of the metropolitan region. The public transit system does not serve many of these disadvantaged areas. And, many households cannot afford to own or operate a car. Isolated from jobs, schools, clinics, and entrepreneurial opportunity, these citizens are trapped in a cycle of poverty and environmental degradation.

• Mexico City's subway, called the Metro, opened in the early 1970s. It is the world's fourth busiest subway system, carrying approximately 1.3 billion passengers each year. Travelers can cross the city's core in 20 minutes. Unfortunately, the Metro doesn't go everywhere. Some lines are underutilized. Others are very crowded.

Give reasons for the rapid growth of cities in the developing world. What social and environmental problems have resulted from this rapid growth?

Outline THREE challenges of living in Megacities. Explain how people have responded to these challenges.

Urban dynamics

Urban dynamic include:

Suburbanisation

Exurbanisation

Urban renewal/Gentrification

Urban decay

Consolidation

Counterurbanisation

Decentralisation

Urban village

Spatial exclusion

Urban dynamics in Sydney

Choose a city of at least 2 million people. Describe the morphology of that city. Discuss the relationship between urban processes and social well-being in the city

An urban dynamic operating in a country town or suburb – Bathurst case study

Urban Places – Practice Essays

• Describe and account for the changing patterns of world urbanisation• Give reasons for the rapid growth of cities in the developing world. What social and environmental

problems have resulted from this rapid growth?• Name and locate one large city of at least 2 million people. Identify the management issues that have

occurred as a result of the growth or decline of the city. Explain the role of government in planning for the future of this city.

• Discuss the economic, social, cultural, political and environmental forces affecting the nature and rates of urbanisation at different times and in different places.

• Answer:• a)      Outline the extent of rapid urbanisation in the developing world • b)      Discuss the growth and role of large cities in Africa, Asia, Central America and south America• c)      Suggest economic, social, cultural, political and environmental forces affecting this rapid rate of

urbanisation• Select a large city of at least 2 million. Outline the role of the large city and its changing relationships

with its hinterland and other centres.• With reference to examples, write an essay that outlines and discusses the differences in levels and

rates of urbanisation between less developed and more developed regions of the world.• With reference to a large city of at least 2 million people, write an extended response that examines

the impacts of urban process on the nature of the city’s urban structure.• Outline and discuss the changing relationship of a large city of at least 2 million people with its

hinterland and other centres.