Geography IGCSE - Settlements

Site

the land on which a settlement is built

Situation

position of settlement in relation to the surrounding area

Function

a settlement’s main activity or purpose

Dispersed

houses/buildings are far apart, following a random arrangement that doesn’t follow a specific pattern.

Linear

houses/buildings follow a specific pattern, are usually built following a river or a road.

Nuclear

houses/buildings are all built in a specific area, usually very close together. An example could be a CBD area. There are usually high population densities in this area. 

Factors influencing sites, growth and function of settlement:

• Soil → fertile soil → agriculture

• water and food supply → steady supply of food

• situation features → resources and defensive features

• accessibility to other settlements → grow faster if well connected to other towns → trade and movement

• transportation methods availability → growth with trade and accessibility

• climate → extreme climates limit growth

Urban sprawl

unplanned growth of urban areas into surrounding countryside

effects and changes of urban sprawl

Effects	Impacts
more businesses	more accessibility for long distance travelling
Overcrowding	housing shortages → urban sprawl to fix it
overcrowding	more pollution
Privately owned cars	more traffic congestion

Sphere of influence

area around a settlement that people will travel from to use a service

Low order goods

(or convenience goods) are goods people buy on a daily basis

High order goods

(or comparison goods) are goods you buy less often, tend to be more expensive and people are prepared to travel further to compare prices before buying

Threshold population

minimum population needed for a service to be offered

Hierarchy of settlements

Reasons for the hierarchy of settlements and services

The bigger the settlement, the more services are provided. For example cities have a lot more services that can provide the citizens than towns and villages, while they only have really basic and essential services. Also rural areas have a lot less services compared to urban areas, because urban areas are more developed and offer more services in general.

Hierarchy of settlements

Describe and give reasons for the characteristics of, and changes in, land use in urban areas

CBD → located in city centre → commercial and business center with high property values

Residential areas → vary from dense urban houses to suburban houses → wealthier countries see gentrification → developing countries rapid expansion into informal settlements

Industrial areas → on outskirts → declining in developed countries due to change in economies → expanding in developing

Rural - urban fringe → transition zone between the 2 → new developments → leads to land conflict

Bid-rent theory

• Bid - rent shows that rent or value of land increases the closer it is to the centre

• Land nearest to the CBD → most expensive (centrally located, very accessible and limited availability)

• Rent or value decreases with distance from the CBD

• This value determines how land is used (commercial, industry or residential)

Hoyt’s Sector Model:

• After the development of public transport systems and an increase in the use of cars

• CBD remained central

• Transport routes became more important when locating industry

• Industry sectors (or wedges) extended along major transport routes

• Low-class housing followed this pattern as workers needed to be closer to their workplaces

Main difference between low and high class residential

Location and Infrastructure:

LC → less desirable areas with basic infrastructure.

HC → prime, well-connected modern areas

Amenities and Security:

LC → Limited amenities, minimal security.

HC → Lots of amenities, enhanced security with gated access and surveillance.

Property Value and Community Services:

LC → More affordable, lower property values + fewer community services.

HC → Higher property prices + rents, well-maintained with community services.

Explain the problems of urban areas + their causes

• air, noise, water, visual pollution → globalisation + rapid urban growth

• inequality →

• housing issues → rapid urban growth

• traffic congestion → rapid urban growth

• conflicts over land use change → rapid urban growth → limited amount of land

Burgess’s Concentric Zone Model:

• Five concentric circles arranged around the CBD in a circular pattern

• Each circle has has a different land use

• Land costs are higher in the CBD

• Land costs are lower with increasing distance from the city centre

CBD: MBS shopping mall, orchard

Light manufacturing: Sawmill, paper making

Low class residential: HDB

Medium class residential: apartments

High class residential: Landed housing

Explain the problems of urban areas + possible solutions

• air, noise pollution → public transport, energy efficiency, noise policies

• water pollution → globalisation + rapid urban growth

• inequality → green infrastructure techniques

• housing issues → public housing, affordable

• traffic congestion → road pricing, public transport

• conflicts over land use change → land use policies, urban sprawl

reasons for rapid urban growth physical, economic and social factors which result in rural depopulation and the movement of people to major cities

• urban pull factors → higher wages, better job opportunities, accessible public utilities

• Rural push factors → limited healthcare + education, mechanisation of farming, harsh + monotonous lifestyle

positive impacts of urban growth on both rural and urban areas

• creation of employment opportunities

• Quality education and medical facilities

• Improved transportation

• Technological and infrastructure improvements

negative impacts of urban growth on both rural and urban areas + solutions

• Slums → relocating the people + improving the infrastructure so it’s a proper living space

• Visual pollution → laws for graffiti, strict planning

characteristics of squatter settlements

• houses built from dried mud as the walls and corrugated iron for the roof.

• no proper toilets

• no electricity between phone lines

• no running water, sewage or electricity in homes

• no paved roads or sewers

• little space between houses

• weak infrastructure

• extremely high density