Urbanization:Urbanization:An IntroductionAn Introduction

Global Geography 12Global Geography 12M. Doherty & N. BurbridgeM. Doherty & N. Burbridge

UrbanizationUrbanization

• • Urbanization - redistribution from the Urbanization - redistribution from the countryside to the citycountryside to the city

• • Therefore, urbanization is measured Therefore, urbanization is measured as theas the

percent of the population residing in percent of the population residing in an urban areaan urban area

But how do we define “urban”?But how do we define “urban”?

Urban is defined by:Urban is defined by:

1) population size1) population size2) space2) space3) ratio of population to 3) ratio of population to

space - densityspace - density4) economic and social 4) economic and social

organizationorganization

Panama CityPanama Cityhttp://www.canalmuseum.com/canalphotos/panama-city-15.http://www.canalmuseum.com/canalphotos/panama-city-15.jpgjpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TImD3ka9ppg/SBYDIa-LabI/AAAAAAAAAFk/JUWCYDLZC-s/s400/cartoon%2B2.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TImD3ka9ppg/SBYDIa-LabI/AAAAAAAAAFk/JUWCYDLZC-s/s400/cartoon%2B2.jpg

Impacts of Urbanization inImpacts of Urbanization inMDC’sMDC’s

PositivePositive higher wageshigher wages economies of scaleeconomies of scale More social mobilityMore social mobility

NegativeNegative• • crowding (applies tocrowding (applies tosuburbs as well assuburbs as well ascentral cities now)central cities now)• • More violent crimeMore violent crime• • pollution (suburbanizationpollution (suburbanizationdoesn’t help)doesn’t help)• • concentration of the poorconcentration of the poorin central citiesin central cities

TorontoTorontohttp://www.torontorealestatedirect.com/torontohttp://www.torontorealestatedirect.com/toronto

Additional Impacts ofAdditional Impacts ofUrbanization in LDC’sUrbanization in LDC’s

PositivePositive• • Lower fertilityLower fertility• • Lower mortalityLower mortality• • More opportunities forMore opportunities forpolitical participationpolitical participation

NegativeNegative• • More sexuallyMore sexuallytransmitted diseasestransmitted diseases• • Expansion of amenitiesExpansion of amenities(water, education,(water, education,sanitation) failing tosanitation) failing tokeep pace with urbankeep pace with urbanGrowthGrowth

Mexico CityMexico Cityhttp://azteca.free.fr/Divers/mexico.jpghttp://azteca.free.fr/Divers/mexico.jpg

Terms To KnowTerms To KnowSite CharacteristicsSite Characteristics – –

Every settlement site is Every settlement site is chosen for particular chosen for particular reasons. These are reasons. These are known as site known as site characteristics.characteristics.

Landforms (i.e. is the Landforms (i.e. is the area protected by area protected by mountains or is there a mountains or is there a natural harbor present?)natural harbor present?)

ClimateClimate Vegetation typesVegetation types Availability of waterAvailability of water Soil qualitySoil quality MineralsMinerals WildlifeWildlife

http://stelizabethsdevelopment.comhttp://stelizabethsdevelopment.com

Terms To KnowTerms To KnowSituation Situation

CharacteristicsCharacteristics - are - are defined as the location defined as the location of a place relative to its of a place relative to its surroundings and other surroundings and other places.places.

Accessibility of the Accessibility of the locationlocation

The extent of a place's The extent of a place's connections with connections with anotheranother

How close an area may How close an area may be to raw materials if be to raw materials if they are not located they are not located specifically on the sitespecifically on the site

HalifaxHalifaxhttp://www.greatearthexpeditions.com/http://www.greatearthexpeditions.com/

Terms To KnowTerms To Know

Site ModificationsSite Modifications – – Changes made to a site Changes made to a site

to make it more to make it more beneficialbeneficial

Levelling my backyardLevelling my backyard Putting a drainage pipe Putting a drainage pipe

and graveland gravel Planting a weeping Planting a weeping

willow tree to suck up willow tree to suck up extra waterextra water

Creating a man-made Creating a man-made pond or water featurepond or water feature

Terms To KnowTerms To KnowSituation ModificationsSituation Modifications – – Changes made to a Changes made to a

situation to make it more situation to make it more beneficialbeneficial

Building a bridge to the Building a bridge to the next town or city (Shown next town or city (Shown is Angus L. MacDonald is Angus L. MacDonald bridge built in 1955)bridge built in 1955)

Adding infrastructure like Adding infrastructure like roads and roads and communicationcommunication

Extracting nearby Extracting nearby available natural available natural resourcesresources

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/nsarm/bridge.jpghttp://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/nsarm/bridge.jpg

Barcelona, SpainBarcelona, Spain http://cdn.travelmuse.com/docs/artwork/barcelona/barcelona-cruise-break-las-ramblas-aerial-large.jpghttp://cdn.travelmuse.com/docs/artwork/barcelona/barcelona-cruise-break-las-ramblas-aerial-large.jpg

Barcelona, SpainBarcelona, Spain

Site CharacteristicsSite Characteristics Situation Situation CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Hill for defence Hill for defence Port Port Reliable water supply Reliable water supply for drinking and power for drinking and power

Route Centre Route Centre

Fertile farmland Fertile farmland Limestone quarries Limestone quarries Flat land for building Flat land for building Close to wealthy NW Close to wealthy NW

European markets European markets Sheltered by hills to Sheltered by hills to the north the north South-facing slope South-facing slope

Terms To KnowTerms To Know

Every city serves a function. These Every city serves a function. These functions will fall into one of three functions will fall into one of three (3) categories:(3) categories:

1.1. Specialized FunctionSpecialized Function

2.2. Central Place FunctionCentral Place Function

3.3. Break-of-BulkBreak-of-Bulk

Terms To KnowTerms To KnowSpecialized FunctionSpecialized Function – –

The location at which cities are dominated by one The location at which cities are dominated by one activity such as mining, manufacturing or recreation activity such as mining, manufacturing or recreation and serving national and international markets and serving national and international markets

www.capebretoncoalminers.ca/ www.capebretoncoalminers.ca/

Terms To KnowTerms To KnowCentral Place Central Place

FunctionFunction – – The location at The location at

which a settlement which a settlement simply functions as simply functions as a 'central place' a 'central place' providing goods providing goods and services to and services to surrounding areassurrounding areas

http://www.thesystem.org/uploaded_images/http://www.thesystem.org/uploaded_images/christallerssoutherngermany1.gifchristallerssoutherngermany1.gif

Terms To KnowTerms To Know

Break-of-BulkBreak-of-Bulk – – The location at which a The location at which a

cargo is unloaded and cargo is unloaded and broken up into smaller broken up into smaller units prior to delivery, units prior to delivery, and perhaps changing and perhaps changing modes of modes of transportation, transportation, minimizing transport minimizing transport costs.costs.

img.alibaba.com/photo/104880623img.alibaba.com/photo/104880623 http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/

wetcoastkidjst/Rail%20CN/9f9fed87-jst.jpg wetcoastkidjst/Rail%20CN/9f9fed87-jst.jpg