Define urban

Defining urban
As there is not set definition of urban - an urban place
can be characterised by ?
 Defining urban
Some countries classify by population
size – this can vary as shown in 2.6.
No universal definition

Some countries may do this by

employment sector (number of
people in different types of jobs)

Some do this by the density of

housing and space in between.

Some do this by the functions they

perform and services offered!

Simple definition – rural = countryside

and urban as a city/town etc.
Outdated as this is now 10 million or more!
Site - the actual land in which the
settlement is built on
The Nile Delta
Site - the actual land in which the settlement is built on
 Early settlers - Site
Early settlers took advantage of good sites for
agriculture and housing.

Desirable factors included:

-freedom from flooding
 Early settlers - Site
Desirable factors included:
-freedom from flooding
-reliable water supply
-local timber for construction or fuel
-level sites (flat land)
-close to rich fertile soil
-potential trade locations
(confluence)
-minerals
 Bring up Egypt on google
earth/maps
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Egypt/@
30.464999,29.3790645,7.2z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s
0x14368976c35c36e9:0x2c45a00925c4c444!8m
2!3d26.820553!4d30.802498

Pan around and describe the pattern of the of

settlements.
 Egypt
1. Is there a pattern in terms of size of
settlement?
2. Is there a pattern in terms of spatial
distribution?
Situation - where it is in relation to
its surrounding area.

Describe Cairo’s ‘situation’

As industrialisation occurred, areas with good
access to resources developed and became cities.

This includes the ability to trade (geographical

location) Singapore, London, New York
Site characteristics today include the social,
economic and political characteristics of a
settlement.
The situation of a settlement explains the location of
a settlement in relation to important physical
features, communication routes as well as other
settlements and so locates it within a regional
context.
Village patterns in Southern England
1. Is there a pattern in terms of the size of the settlement?
2. Is there a pattern in terms of spatial distribution?
 Functions and land uses

Most urban places have an industrial role and or a service

role?

How would we describe Singapore?

 Functions (main role)

The larger the settlement the greater number of functions.

 Functions (main roles)

1. Make a list of the functions of

Singapore.

2. Functions of little India.

 Land uses
This varies from city to city and over time.

e.g. Singapore, the amount of industrial land

uses have declined over time.
 Land uses
- Open spaces (parks/gardens/rivers/sports
facilities.
 Land uses
- Transport routes
 Land uses
Residential - where people live
 Land uses
Industrial - (high tech and manufacturing)
 Land uses
Services (health/education/retail/entertainment)
 Vertical zoning
-Same building (used for one function on one
floor and another the next).
 Case study - Land use - New York
Page 333

1. Add the main boroughs of NY to your

map.
2. Title - land use in NY
3. Add a key which should include:
-Commercial/office
-Parking spaces

Residential
-high density
-low density
-high density apartments

Transport/utility
Open space
Public facilities
 Case study - Land use - New York

Create an annotated map showing the land use in New York.

Manhattan (10.2%) commercial and offices -

Lower Manhattan contains Wall Street and is the
center for banking and finance.
High density residential - Manhattan 23.9%
and 12.2% apartments (close to the financial
center, a range of entertainment)
Case study - Land use - New York

Queens - 36.3% Low-density

residential.
Case study - Land use - New York

Staten Island - 33.6%

Low-density residential.
 Case study - Land use - New York

Staten Island - Has most of the vacant land at

17.5%. A low % of high density
apartments/housing.
Complete the following.