Edexcel GCSE Geography: Urban Environments

Key Takeaways: Urban Environments (GCSE Geography)

1. Urbanisation

• Definition: The process where an increasing proportion of a population lives in towns and cities.
• Trends:
  • By 2007, >50% of the global population lived in urban areas.
  • LICs: Rapid urbanisation due to rural-urban migration, natural increase, and economic opportunities.
  • HICs: Slower rates due to counterurbanisation (people moving to rural areas) and already high urban populations.
• Example: Asia has the most megacities (e.g., Tokyo, Mumbai).

Key Tips:

• Use the formula for urban growth:
  Natural Increase=Birth Rate−Death RateNatural Increase=Birth Rate−Death Rate
• Compare LIC/HIC trends using Figure 6.1.

2. Megacities

• Definition: Cities with >10 million people (e.g., Delhi, São Paulo).
• Growth Drivers:
  • Economic growth, population surge, economies of scale, and multiplier effect.
• Challenges: Overcrowding, pollution, and infrastructure strain.

Example: Mumbai’s Dharavi slum highlights issues of rapid growth.

3. Suburbanisation

• Definition: Expansion of cities into surrounding suburbs due to:
  • Transport improvements (e.g., motorways).
  • Cheaper land for housing.
• Effects: Urban sprawl, declining inner-city populations.

Case Study: Southampton’s Hedge End Retail Park developed near the M27 motorway.

4. Urban Land Use

• Zones:
  1. CBD: High land value, retail focus (e.g., Zomba’s city centre).
  2. Inner City: Older housing, high-density (e.g., 1960s high-rises).
  3. Suburbs: Lower-density housing.
  4. Rural-Urban Fringe: Mixed developments (e.g., business parks).
• Segregation:
  • Social: Wealthier groups live in desirable areas (e.g., near parks).
  • Ethnic: Ghettos form due to discrimination/support networks (e.g., Chinatowns).

Tip: Revise Zomba’s case study (Figure 6.4) for exam questions.

5. Problems of Rapid Urbanisation

• LIC Challenges:
  • Transport: Overloaded systems (e.g., Dhaka’s traffic chaos).
  • Health: Poor sanitation → diseases like cholera.
  • Housing: Shanty towns (e.g., Kibera in Nairobi).
• HIC Challenges: Inner-city deprivation, crime, and unemployment.

Key Rule: Link problems to lack of infrastructure and population pressure.

6. Greenfield vs Brownfield Sites

Case Study: Southampton’s Nursing Industrial Park (brownfield) vs Science Park (greenfield).

7. Deprivation & Gentrification

• Symptoms: Slums, graffiti, unemployment (e.g., Detroit’s decline).
• Inner-City Changes:
  • 1960s–1980s: Decay → high-rise blocks → crime.
  • 2000s+: Gentrification attracts wealthier residents (e.g., London’s Shoreditch).

Tip: Use Figure 6.6 to explain the cycle of decline and revival.

8. Urban Rebranding

• Definitions:
  • Regeneration: Renewing old areas (e.g., Toronto’s Distillery District).
  • Rebranding: Creating a new image (e.g., MediaCityUK, Salford).
• Process: Partnerships between councils, developers, and businesses.

Exam Trick: Always name a specific example for case study questions.

9. Exam Prep Tips

1. Case Studies: Memorise one HIC (e.g., Southampton) and one LIC city (e.g., Zomba).
2. Diagrams: Sketch annotated maps (e.g., urban zones).
3. Key Terms: Define terms like counterurbanisation or economies of scale.
4. Data Skills: Interpret graphs (e.g., Figure 6.10) using phrases like “steep gradient” or “plateau.”

Formula Practice:
Population Density=Total PopulationLand AreaPopulation Density=Land AreaTotal Population​

50 GCSE Geography Questions: Urban Environments

Answers provided at the end.

Section A: Short Answer (1–4 marks)

1. Define urbanisation. (1)
2. What percentage of the global population lived in urban areas by 2007? (1)
3. Name two factors causing rapid urbanisation in LICs. (2)
4. What is counterurbanisation? (2)
5. Identify one reason why urbanisation rates are slower in HICs. (1)
6. Define megacity and name two examples. (2)
7. Calculate the natural increase of a city where the birth rate is 25/1000 and the death rate is 8/1000. (2)
8. What is the multiplier effect in urban growth? (2)
9. State two problems caused by rapid urbanisation in LICs. (2)
10. Why do retail businesses cluster in the CBD? (2)
11. Name two characteristics of shanty towns. (2)
12. Outline one advantage of building on brownfield sites. (1)
13. What is the green belt? (1)
14. Give one example of a symptom of deprivation in HIC cities. (1)
15. Define gentrification. (2)
16. What is urban regeneration? (2)
17. Name two factors contributing to ethnic segregation in cities. (2)
18. Why might high-rise inner-city housing from the 1960s–1970s become areas of deprivation? (2)
19. What does redevelopment mean in urban rebranding? (1)
20. Explain why land value decreases with distance from the CBD. (4)

Section B: Case Studies & Data Response (4–6 marks)

21. Using Figure 6.1, describe the trend in urbanisation for LICs between 1950 and 2030. (4)
22. Outline two reasons why Zomba’s low-class residential areas are located south of the CBD. (4)
23. Explain why Southampton’s Science Park was built near the M3 motorway. (4)
24. Study Figure 6.6. Describe how gentrification has changed inner-city areas. (4)
25. Using Figure 6.10, calculate the urban population of LICs in 2010 if the total population was 5.5 billion. (2)
26. Analyse two reasons why developers might prefer greenfield over brownfield sites. (4)
27. Evaluate two disadvantages of building on greenfield land. (4)
28. Why does social segregation occur in cities? Use examples. (4)
29. Discuss two strategies used to improve living conditions in shanty towns. (4)
30. Explain how transport improvements lead to suburbanisation. (4)

Section C: Extended Response (6–9 marks)

31. Explain the causes and consequences of rapid urbanisation in LICs. (6)
32. Discuss the environmental and social impacts of urban sprawl. (6)
33. Evaluate the effectiveness of green belts in controlling urban expansion. (6)
34. Compare the challenges of urbanisation in HICs and LICs. (6)
35. Analyse how urban rebranding can revitalise declining areas. Use a case study. (9)
36. Assess the role of government policies in reducing urban deprivation. (6)
37. “Brownfield development is better than greenfield development.” To what extent do you agree? (9)
38. Describe the changing land use patterns in a city you have studied. (6)
39. How does deindustrialisation contribute to inner-city decline? (6)
40. Why might a transect study need multiple sampling sites to measure environmental quality? (4)

Section D: Skill-Based Questions

41. Draw an annotated diagram of the four urban zones. (4)
42. Interpret Figure 6.11: What stage of urbanisation do HICs occupy, and why? (4)
43. Calculate the population density of a city with 2.5 million people and an area of 500 km². (2)
44. Sketch a graph showing the difference in urban growth rates between HICs and LICs. (4)
45. Design a fieldwork method to investigate changes in urban land use. (4)

Section E: Bonus Questions

46. Define economies of scale in the context of megacities. (2)
47. Why is the multiplier effect significant for megacity growth? (2)
48. What is leap-frogging in urban development? (2)
49. Name two diseases linked to poor sanitation in rapidly urbanising areas. (2)
50. Explain why ethnic ghettos might form in HIC cities. (4)

Detailed Answers

1. Urbanisation: The process where an increasing proportion of a population lives in towns/cities.
2. Over 50% of the global population lived in urban areas by 2007.
3. Factors: Rural-urban migration, natural increase, economic opportunities in cities.
4. Counterurbanisation: Movement of people from urban to rural areas, often due to overcrowding/pollution.
5. Reason: High existing urban population or deindustrialisation.
6. Megacity: City with >10 million people (e.g., Tokyo, Mumbai).
7. Natural Increase:
   Natural Increase=25−8=17 per 1000Natural Increase=25−8=17 per 1000
8. Multiplier Effect: Job creation attracts more migrants, leading to further economic growth.
9. Problems: Overloaded transport, inadequate housing (shanty towns).
10. CBD Clustering: High accessibility attracts customers; businesses pay premium rents.
11. Shanty Town Traits: Poor sanitation, informal housing, overcrowding.
12. Brownfield Advantage: Reduces urban sprawl by reusing derelict land.
13. Green Belt: Protected rural area around cities to limit urban expansion.
14. Deprivation Symptom: Poor housing (e.g., slums).
15. Gentrification: Wealthier residents renovate old inner-city housing, displacing poorer groups.
16. Urban Regeneration: Renewing old areas via redevelopment (demolishing) or renewal (upgrading).
17. Ethnic Segregation: Discrimination, mutual support networks (e.g., Chinatowns).
18. High-Rise Issues: Poor maintenance, crime, lack of investment.
19. Redevelopment: Demolishing old structures to build anew (e.g., London Olympic Park).
20. Land Value Decline: Lower accessibility reduces demand; cheaper land supports housing.

21. Trend in LIC Urbanisation (1950–2030):

• Steady increase from 1950, accelerating post-2000. By 2030, LIC urban populations surpass HICs due to rural-urban migration and natural increase (Figure 6.1).

22. Zomba’s Low-Class Residential Areas:

• Located south of CBD due to regular flooding (unsafe land) and low land value, making it affordable for impoverished groups.

23. Southampton Science Park:

• Built near M3 for access to transport links (efficient commuting) and proximity to Southampton University (R&D collaboration).

24. Gentrification in Inner Cities:

• Wealthy residents renovate old housing (e.g., London’s Shoreditch), displacing low-income groups. New services (cafés, galleries) improve area image (Figure 6.6).

25. LIC Urban Population (2010):

• From Figure 6.10, LIC urban population ≈ 2.5 billion.
  Urban Population=2.55.5×100=45.5%Urban Population=5.52.5​×100=45.5%

26. Developers Prefer Greenfield Sites:

• Cheaper land (no cleanup costs) and flexibility to design modern layouts (e.g., retail parks).

27. Greenfield Disadvantages:

• Habitat destruction (e.g., farmland loss) and urban sprawl (increased car dependency).

28. Social Segregation:

• Wealthier groups afford prime locations (e.g., near parks in Zomba), while poorer groups occupy cheaper, less accessible areas (e.g., inner-city high-rises).

29. Shanty Town Improvements:

• Self-help schemes (residents upgrade homes with government materials) and installation of utilities (e.g., water pipes in Kibera, Nairobi).

30. Transport and Suburbanisation:

• Motorways (e.g., M27) enable commuting from suburbs, reducing inner-city demand. Developers build housing along transport corridors (e.g., Southampton’s Hedge End).

31. Causes & Consequences of LIC Urbanisation:

• Causes: Rural poverty, job opportunities in cities, natural increase.
• Consequences: Shanty towns (e.g., Dharavi), traffic congestion, cholera outbreaks.

32. Urban Sprawl Impacts:

• Environmental: Greenfield loss, pollution from cars.
• Social: Community fragmentation due to dispersed populations.

33. Green Belt Effectiveness:

• Success: Limits sprawl (e.g., around London).
• Failure: Developers “leap-frog” belts, creating satellite towns (e.g., beyond Southampton’s belt).

34. HIC vs LIC Urban Challenges:

• LICs: Informal housing, poor infrastructure.
• HICs: Inner-city deprivation, gentrification conflicts.

35. Urban Rebranding Example:

• MediaCityUK (Salford): Transformed derelict docks into a digital hub, creating jobs and improving image via partnerships.

36. Government Policies for Deprivation:

• Investment in education (e.g., London’s Sure Start centres) and social housing upgrades (e.g., Manchester’s regeneration schemes).

37. Brownfield vs Greenfield Debate:

• Agree: Brownfield reduces sprawl (e.g., London Olympic Park).
• Disagree: Greenfield allows planned communities (e.g., Cambridge Science Park).

38. Changing Land Use in Zomba:

• Colonial-era buildings (high-class) near CBD; shanty towns expand south due to flooding risks (Figure 6.4).

39. Deindustrialisation & Decline:

• Factory closures (e.g., Detroit’s car industry) → unemployment → crime → population loss.

40. Transect Study Sampling:

• Multiple sites ensure representative data (e.g., varying land values, building ages).

41. Urban Zones Diagram:

• Annotate: CBD (centre), inner city (terraced housing), suburbs (semi-detached), rural-urban fringe (business parks).

42. Figure 6.11 Interpretation:

• HICs in Stage 4 (stable urban populations due to counterurbanisation).

43. Population Density Calculation:
    Density=2,500,000500=5,000 people/km²Density=5002,500,000​=5,000 people/km²
44. Urban Growth Graph:

• LIC line: Steep upward curve. HIC line: Gradual rise, plateauing post-2000.

45. Fieldwork Method:

• Land use survey using transect walks and land value maps to compare zones.

46. Economies of Scale:

• Businesses cluster in megacities (e.g., Mumbai) to share infrastructure and reduce costs.

47. Multiplier Effect:

• New jobs attract workers → demand for services → more jobs (e.g., Delhi’s IT sector).

48. Leap-Frogging:

• Developers bypass green belts to build on distant greenfield sites (e.g., beyond Southampton).

49. Diseases:

• Cholera and typhoid from contaminated water (e.g., Dhaka’s slums).

50. Ethnic Ghettos in HICs:

• Form due to discrimination (e.g., housing denial) and cultural cohesion (e.g., Bradford’s South Asian communities).