Urban Studies Quiz: Characteristics of Cities

Chapter 7: How Can We Build Sustainable Cities?

• The chapter focuses on strategies for constructing and managing sustainable cities.
• Guiding questions explore various aspects of city life, including city characteristics, the city-rural relationship, urban impacts on inhabitants and the environment, and sustainable city development and management.
• Learning objectives include describing city characteristics, city-rural links, urban environmental and societal effects, and sustainable city building strategies.
• Students are to recall prior learning related to different environmental types, Singapore's environment, and hypothetical future urban growth.
• Students will watch a YouTube video on "Urbanization and the Future of Cities."
• Students will work in pairs to discuss the historical development of cities and their current state, analyzing characteristics and associated challenges.
• Following this, students will jointly explore projected future city development, factoring in potential advancements and hindrances.
• Urbanization is defined and discussed.
• A city is a defined urban area within a country.
• Globally, 50% of the world’s population lived in cities in 2007, with projections of 60% by 2030.
• The text includes a list of the top 10 most populated cities, ranked from largest to smallest, and identifies which of those are located in Asia.
• Specific examples of cities include Cairo, Egypt; New Delhi, India; Mumbai, India; Beijing, China; Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai, China; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Kinshasa, DRC; Mexico City, Mexico; and São Paulo, Brazil.
• City features include large population size, high population density, built-up area, and a range of functions.
• The minimum population size to be recognized as a city varies between countries, which is explored further using Figure 7.2.
• City population density - Number of people living in an area divided by the area (sq km) reflecting high population concentration in urban areas.
• Cities are major built-up areas of continuous human settlements.
• Cities usually have extensive infrastructure for providing essential services such as water, electricity, sanitation, telecommunication, and transportation to their inhabitants.
• Cities often offer a range of activities and functions, encompassing administrative, commercial, and educational institutions.

Features of Cities

• Cities boast a wide array of educational institutions, leading to a substantial pool of skilled employees.
• Many recent graduates work and remain within city environments.
• Cities promote technological innovation, generating novel products and services, fostering environmental sustainability initiatives.
• Challenges in cities involve competition for natural resources, such as land and water use, for residential, industrial, and other purposes, which can lead to unhappiness and dissatisfaction among residents.
• Pollution, notably from various sources like water and air pollution, is a concern in dense urban settings

How Can Cities Be Sustainably Built and Managed?

• Sustainable city management incorporates environmental management, which encompasses various actions like reducing water pollution through advanced water treatment facilities (illustrated by the Kranji Reservoir), reducing air pollution using stringent environmental laws, and implementing hazard mitigation through better building materials and comprehensive land use planning.
• Effective hazard mitigation involves using improved building materials, such as earthquake-resistant constructions, and thoughtful land-use planning to curtail potential issues in high-risk areas, like those affected by coastal erosion.
• Sustainable city management must enhance the quality of life for all its inhabitants, including ensuring safe housing and readily accessible transportation options.
• Providing a variety of transportation modes (land, air, and water) fosters easier city traversal, reduces traffic congestion, and minimizes environmental pollution.