Urban Issues key terms

Front

agglomeration economy

Back

The economies of scale derived by firms clustering together and sharing ancillary services and public utilities; includes industrial linkages, specialised labour force, bulk buying, and shared marketing.

Front

albedo

Back

The reflectivity (reflection coefficient) of a surface which varies according to its colour and texture.

Front

anticyclones

Back

Areas of high air pressure where descending air ‘piles up’ on the surface.

Front

brownfield

Back

Areas of urban wasteland, such as former factories, canals, or disused railways, with potential for redevelopment despite high costs of demolition and contamination removal.

Front

channelisation

Back

Straightening and lining of a river channel to improve flow and navigability; costly, unsightly, and may increase flooding risk downstream.

Front

community-focused regeneration

Back

Regeneration focusing on the social needs of communities, such as affordable housing to rent or buy, shops, and schools.

Front

counterurbanisation

Back

Population movement from large urban areas to smaller urban settlements and rural areas.

Front

cultural diversity

Back

The existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a city or society.

Front

decentralisation

Back

Process of redistributing people, functions, or power away from the centre to the periphery.

Front

deindustrialisation

Back

The long-term decline of a country’s manufacturing and heavy industries.