Geography - Urban studies

Site

Physical location where a settlement is established (e.g., river, flat land)

Settlement

A place where people live; can grow in size over time

Situation

Location in relation to other settlements; includes access to housing, jobs, and services

Push Factors

Reasons people leave an area: beliefs, overpopulation, poor services, poverty, lack of jobs

Pull Factors

Reasons people move to an area: better jobs, education, healthcare, standard of living

Urban Settlement

A densely populated area, like a town or city, where people live and work

Metropolis

A large city that includes surrounding suburbs

Conurbation

An area where multiple cities grow and merge into one large urban zone

Megacity

A city with more than 10 million people (e.g. Tokyo, São Paulo)

Urban Land Use: CBD

Central Business District - the economic and financial heart of the city

Urban Land Use: Residential

Areas where people live - includes housing of all types

Urban Land Use: Industrial

Zones with factories, warehouses, and manufacturing

Urban Land Use: Commercial

Shops, offices, and businesses

Urban Land Use: Transport

Infrastructure for movement - roads, railways, bus terminals

Urban Land Use: Green Spaces

Parks, recreational areas, forests - for public use and environment

Open Land Uses

Non-urban use - includes agriculture and undeveloped green space

Burgess Model

Concentric zones of land use expanding outwards from the city centre

Hoyt Sector Model

City grows in sectors or wedges from the CBD, often along transport routes

Multiple Nuclei Model

City develops around multiple centres or nodes (e.g., industrial, residential)

Slums

Densely populated poor urban areas with bad housing, lack of services, insecure tenure

Key Characteristics of Slums

Poor housing, overcrowding, no legal land ownership, crime, lack of education and healthcare

Problems in Urban Areas

Air and water pollution, poor housing, lack of services, social inequality

Formation of Slums

Driven by urbanisation, poverty, lack of affordable housing, rural-urban migration

Urban Solutions

Cleaner energy, better infrastructure, access to services, employment opportunities

Sustainable Development

Development meeting present needs without harming future generations

Aims of Sustainable Development

Balance society, economy, and environment; minimise waste and use of land/resources

Curitiba: Background

Brazilian city of ~2 million, known for urban sustainability

Curitiba: Transport System

Efficient Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system with dedicated lanes and good coverage

Curitiba: Green Spaces

28 parks and leisure areas; strong environmental policies

Curitiba: Recycling & Planning

Advanced recycling schemes; walkable, well-planned city using green solutions

Recycling

Separating and reusing materials (organic and inorganic)

Circular Economy

A system where materials are recycled in a closed loop, reducing waste and new resource use

Resource Management

Efficient use of resources; promotes minimal extraction and local sourcing

Urban Planning: Master Planning

A plan that guides development in housing, industry, and transport

Modern Urban Spread: Decentralisation

City centres become less dense and less busy; growth moves to urban edges

Urban Sprawl

Uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding countryside

Urban Green Spaces

Parks and recreational areas that support health, biodiversity, and quality of life

Urban Passages

Pathways designed for people and wildlife to move through urban spaces

Social Inclusion

Ensuring all social groups, including the poor, can access services and opportunities

Rehabilitation

Upgrading slums and providing affordable, mixed-use housing developments

Urban Education Access

Availability of schools, universities, libraries, and community centres

Welfare Services

Social support including housing assistance and healthcare

Circular City (Definition)

A city operating on a closed-loop system where resources are reused and waste is minimised

Circular City: Key Features

Recycling, local supply chains, efficient energy use, support for the urban poor

Circular City: Benefits

Less pollution, better health, stronger infrastructure, job creation, community involvement

Resource Extraction

Kept to a minimum by promoting recycling and local production

Local Economy

Buying and producing locally helps support communities and nature

Collaboration in Cities

Sustainable cities require cooperation between residents, businesses, and government

Summary of Circular City Benefits

Efficient resource use, better health, resilience, long-term change, and economic opportunity