Urban expansion and the environment
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Flip to reveal answersWhat is the CBD (Central Business District)?
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Question
What is the CBD (Central Business District)?
Answer
The commercial and business centre of a city with the highest land values and tallest buildings.
💡 Hint
City commercial core
Question
What is urban sprawl?
Answer
Uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into rural land, typically low-density and car-dependent.
💡 Hint
Low density + car dependent
Question
What land use zone usually has the highest land values?
Answer
The CBD (Central Business District).
💡 Hint
Highest value zone
Question
Give three environmental impacts of urban sprawl.
Answer
Habitat loss, higher transport emissions from longer commutes, and increased runoff due to more impervious surfaces.
💡 Hint
Habitat + emissions + runoff
Question
State two features that typically indicate urban sprawl.
Answer
Low-density housing and car-dependent layouts with separated land uses.
💡 Hint
Low density + cars
Question
Give three major urban land use zones.
Answer
CBD, residential zones, and industrial zones (also green spaces and transport infrastructure).
💡 Hint
CBD + housing + industry
Question
What is mixed-use zoning?
Answer
An area that combines residential, commercial, and sometimes light industrial uses, reducing travel needs.
💡 Hint
Mix homes + services
Question
Why does sprawl increase car dependency?
Answer
Land uses are spread out and separated, making walking and public transport less practical.
💡 Hint
Spread out = driving
Question
Name two negative environmental effects of sprawl.
Answer
Habitat loss and increased greenhouse gas emissions from longer commutes.
💡 Hint
Land + emissions
Question
Name one urban land use model and its key idea.
Answer
Concentric zone model: CBD at the centre with rings of land uses around it (alternatively sector or multiple nuclei).
💡 Hint
CBD patterns
Question
Give two social/economic impacts of urban sprawl.
Answer
Higher household transport costs and social isolation (also inequality and high infrastructure costs).
💡 Hint
Costs + isolation
Question
Which land use model includes “multiple centres” rather than one CBD?
Answer
The multiple nuclei model (Harris and Ullman).
💡 Hint
More than one centre
Question
What is one alternative to sprawl that reduces travel and emissions?
Answer
Compact, mixed-use development with good public transport (transit-oriented development).
💡 Hint
Compact + transit
Question
Paper 1 tip: How do you identify zones on a map/image?
Answer
Use visual clues: tall dense buildings (CBD), uniform housing (residential), large warehouses (industrial), vegetation (green space).
💡 Hint
Look for visual clues
Question
Map skill: How can you visually identify an industrial zone?
Answer
Large buildings/warehouses with open yards, often near rail, highways, ports, or major transport links.
💡 Hint
Warehouses near transport
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Topic 8.2 hub
Urban systems and urban planning
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