What is Urbanisation?

Urbanisation is the process of altering land uses to create and further develop urban centres.  The most obvious effect of urbanisation - an effect which is implicit in its definition - is a shift from less intensive to more intensive uses of land.

Urbanisation can be more broadly understood as a process of social and economic change which has accompanied industrial development. The environmental effects of urbanisation therefore usually include impacts associated with the public and private activities that occur in urban areas. These activities may also occur in rural areas, however the impacts in urban areas may be concentrated within a smaller area or be much greater in absolute terms. Because of economies of scale, the environmental impacts of activities in urban areas may also be easier to manage cost-effectively, for example in the case of collection and treatment of sewage.

Urbanisation can affect the built environment, the natural environment and human populations, and its environmental impacts may occur at local, regional and global scales. The impacts of urbanisation are highly interrelated. For example, land-use patterns within urban areas can influence transportation options, while the mode of transportation chosen by residents can affect air quality and noise levels.

The environmental impacts of urbanisation depend on both the population and the level of resource consumption, and the choices made about the manner and method of disposal of waste.

Many of the environmental impacts of activities which occur in urban areas will be detected by reporting on aspects of the environment directly (e.g. water quality) or by reporting on the activities themselves (e.g. tourism).
 

Answer the following:

1  What urban activities would have a high environmental impact?

2  Describe how tourism can effect the environment in urban areas.