Urban System Growth (DP IB Geography)

Infrastructure Improvements

• As urban areas grow, the need for infrastructure and services increases

• The urban population needs: 

  • Access to clean water

  • Sanitation

  • Waste disposal

  • Transport facilities

  • Telecommunications networks

• Successful urban areas ensure that infrastructure and services increase at the same rate as the population

• This ensures that they are able to:

  • Support and attract economic activity

  • Minimise the risk of disease

  • Reduce congestion 

  • Minimise pollution

• Many cities struggle to meet the challenges of providing effective infrastructure

• This is a particular issue in LICs  

• In LICs, cities are rapidly expanding, posing greater challenges with:

  • Traffic congestion

  • Air pollution

  • Unclean water

  • Poor telecommunications

  • The disposal of waste

Access to clean water and sanitation

• Providing access to clean water and sanitation involves creating:

  • An infrastructure of pipes to deliver clean water

  • Treatment works

  • Toilets 

• Urban system growth requires adequate and reliable water supply and distribution systems

  • Infrastructure improvements includes upgrading pipes, pumps, valves, meters, treatment plants, reservoirs, etc.

  • This can reduce water loss, improve the quality of the water, and increase drought resilience of urban areas

• Along with providing clean water and hygiene facilities, sanitation also deals with the management and disposal of human and animal waste

• Sanitation improvements have several positive impacts on urban system growth, including:

  • Helping to improve hygiene and reduce the spread of waterborne diseases

  • Enhancing quality of life and well-being

  • Attracting investment and economic activity

  • Protecting the environment

Waste disposal

• Increased population leads to issues with waste

• The UN estimates that urban areas produce between 7 to 10 billion tonnes of waste each year

• Poor waste disposal increases:

  • The spread of diseases

  • Air, water and land pollution

• Waste disposal is a major challenge to urban system growth

• Waste disposal affects:

  •  The environmental quality and health of the urban residents 

  • Involves the collection, treatment, and disposal of solid and liquid wastes generated by urban activities

• Infrastructure improvements can involve:

  • Waste management systems that minimise waste sent to landfills or being burned

  • Waste to energy facilities

  • Improved waste collection

  • Low-emission waste collection vehicles

  • Education of the public regarding waste reduction and use of biodegradable materials

Transport facilities

• Increased use of private cars and growing populations have led to more pressure on urban transport systems

• Efficient transport is essential for moving goods and people around urban areas

• Poor transport infrastructure leads to:

  • Air pollution

  • Traffic congestion

Telecommunication networks

• Access to efficient telecommunications is essential for economic development because it:

  • Helps improve communication between businesses, residents and governments

  • Improves opportunities for remote work and education

  • Increased access to information and services

• Telecommunications include:

  • Telephone

  • Internet access