Characteristics of Cities and Their Impact

Characteristics of Cities

• Cities have a large population size, varying according to country-specific thresholds.
• High population density is defined as the number of people per square kilometer.
• Cities consist of a built-up area, marked by substantial infrastructure for services like water and electricity.
• A city offers a wide range of functions including administrative, commercial, and economic roles.

Relationship Between Cities and Rural Areas

• Rural-urban migration occurs due to both push and pull factors.
  • Push factors include lack of job opportunities, poor educational facilities, medical issues, famine, and war.
  • Pull factors involve better job prospects, superior schooling, more healthcare access, vibrant city life, and political stability.
• Cities often depend on rural areas for goods and services, particularly food, due to limited agricultural space.

Impact of Cities on the Environment and Inhabitants

• Cities provide opportunities for education and employment.
  • They host various educational institutions that develop a skilled workforce, which businesses can tap into.
• Urban areas foster technological innovations, reducing carbon emissions and enhancing mobility through new products and services.
• Challenges of urban growth include:
  • Increased environmental pollution affecting air and water quality.
  • Competition for natural resources, including land and water.

Sustainable Management of Cities

• Effective environmental management efforts include:
  • Reducing water and air pollution through improved practices.
  • Implementing land-use planning and employing high-quality building materials for construction.
• Enhancing quality of life involves:
  • Ensuring safe housing options.
  • Providing diverse transportation methods.
  • Addressing the needs of various demographic groups, including the elderly and disabled.

Types of Housing in Cities

• Formal housing characteristics:
  • Constructed by governments or private developers.
  • Occupants hold legal rights to the land.
  • Access to essential services and built with high-quality materials.
• Informal housing features:
  • Self-constructed, often occurring in squatter settlements.
  • May lack legal land rights and adequate services.

Explore the fundamental characteristics that define cities, including their population dynamics and built-up areas. Understand the complex relationship between urban and rural areas, focusing on migration and the provision of services. Additionally, examine the environmental impacts of city growth on people and the opportunities it creates.