Infrastructure (College Board AP® Human Geography)

Infrastructure & Spatial Patterns of Economic Development

• Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for society to function

• Examples of infrastructure include:

  • roads

  • bridges

  • water system

  • communication

  • the electrical grid

• The quality, location, and ability to access a city’s infrastructure directly affect its spatial patterns of economic and social development and interconnection

• The presence (or absence) of public transportation, airports, roads, communication systems, and water and sewer systems directly impact the potential development of urban areas

  • Highways, ports, railways, and airports connect markets and facilitate trade

  • Reliable access to electricity supports industrial growth

  • Internet and communication networks allow businesses to operate globally

  • Areas with well-developed infrastructure attract industrial and economic development

  • Areas left with poor or no access to infrastructure lag behind developmentally

• Rapid population growth can cause problems because infrastructure cannot keep pace with the increased demands of the growing population

  • In developing countries, the lack of adequate infrastructure leads to the development of squatter settlements on the outskirts of cities

  • Some governments have moved their national capitals to new locations with committed infrastructure and away from overcrowded urban areas

    • These new capital cities are known as forward capitals

    • New Cairo (Egypt) and Brasilia (Brazil) are examples of forward capitals

Infrastructure & Spatial Patterns of Social Development

Role of infrastructure in development

• The quality and availability of a city’s infrastructure affects economic and social development:

  • Healthcare: hospitals and clinics with good infrastructure leads to better public health

  • Education: schools with proper facilities improve literacy and skill development

  • Entertainment: parks, theatre, and cultural venues enhance urban appeal

  • Transportation: efficient public transport systems connect people to jobs and services

  • Communication: reliable internet access and phone networks enable both business and social connections

• Cities with quality infrastructure experience:

  • improved access to clean water and sewerage systems, reducing disease

  • increased access to healthcare, improving quality of life, and life expectancies

  • higher economic productivity as the population is healthier and more educated

Education and social equality

• Investment in education, for example building schools and training teachers, leads to:

  • improving literacy and access to higher-paying jobs

  • greater gender equality, as education, opens opportunities for women

  • reduced poverty through access to better employment opportunities

• Areas with significant entertainment offerings, high-quality public transport, and good internet access will attract more people and businesses

  • Entertainment hubs draw tourists, artists, and businesses

    • For example, Times Square in New York

  • Publish transport systems reduce commuting times and improve urban accessibility

  • Internet connectivity allows cities to compete in innovation and business globally