HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

COURSE OBJECTIVES
 Introduction of students to the concept of Human
Settlements
 An appreciation of systematic evolution of Human
Settlements across different eras.
 An understanding of Key human settlement models
shaping enquiry, ranging from theories from the
1920’s to contemporary theories.
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INTRODUCTION

 KEY TEXTS: -

 Opaleye (2001) Settlements Geography

 Harvey J (1987) Urban Land Economics
 Abiodun, O. (1985). Urban and Regional Planning Problems
in Nigeria
 Mabogunje A. L. (1968) Urbanisation in Nigeria.

 Note: - Articles will be also recommended with each topic.

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Lecture One: - Introduction.

Origins of Human Settlements:

 Settlements are central to all human development.
 Combination of natural environment and man-made structures
for human activities.

Definitions and Descriptions of Human Settlements

Key Planning Theories seek to explain the evolution and the
morphology of human settlements.
They explore the following ideas:
Hierarchy, Population, Surface area, and Degree of Complexity of
the morphology of settlement forms over time.
 HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
INTRODUCTION

Origins of Human Settlements:

Settlements are central to all human development.
They comprise of Tangible (and Intangible) artifacts.
Tangible Artifacts - the natural environment and
man-made structures.
Intangible Artifacts – Agrarian, economic, and
social interactions & relationships.
They range in size, form, and governance.
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Main Approaches
 Study of settlements as separate entities
 Study of settlements as parts of a system of social environments
studying Hierarchies, Spacing, and Area of influence.

Typology:
 Temporary or Permanent
 Rural or Urban

Factors influencing the nucleation of settlements

 Arable land,
 Natural Defenses,
 Availability of water (Dry or Swampy area).

 
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Classification:
 Size,
 Form,
 Function

Types of Human Settlements

 1) Homesteads/Hamlets 2) Villages 3) Towns and 4)
Cities and 5) Mega-Cities and Metropolitan Regions.

 Typical Characteristics of Human Settlements
 Emergent settlements versus b) Planned Settlements
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Main Conceptual Framework of Planning Theories

Planning theories in general tend to adopt one of two main
approaches. These approaches are: -

1) Man-Environment Systems and

 Cultural Landscape (analysis of human interaction)
 Processes of man-environment interactions
 Environmental perception (man’s image of his
surrounding world)  
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2) Spatial Structure of Human Behaviour

 Spatial Diffusion (deals with locational changes of man,
materials and ideas over time)
 Regional Concepts (process of classifying the complex
terrain, often resulting in a hierarchy of regions being
formed by the system of classification adopted).
 Spatial Order (patterns of order in phenomena, visible as
universal spatial patterns and culturally induced spatial
patterns. Theories that deal with spatial order will seek to
explain space configuration, space use by man, patterns
of human interrelationships in space.
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 Key Theories (Traditional and Contemporary)

 Traditional Theories
 Central Place Theory
 The classical models
 The concentric zone model
 The sector model
 The multiple Nuclei model
 The core periphery model
 The growth pole theory
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 New Theories
 Space Syntax Theory- Hillier & Hanson (1984)
 Variants of the Growth Pole Theory
 Mechanic and Organic Models
Future Cities: -
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
Cities make up 2% of earth crust, but 50% of the world’s
Some Urban Information

population live in cities, and cities consume about 75% of

energy resources.

30 mega cities with over 10million people will be in

existence by 2023.
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LEVEL OF URBANIZATION AND URBANIZATION RATES
1950 TO 2030 (UNPD 2001)

“Most developed countries with relatively large urban populations in

2000 had experienced low rates of urban population growth during
1950-2000 (below 2% per year)
Most developing countries had experienced considerably higher
annual rates of urban population growth (btw 2% and 6%). The highest
is those of Bangladesh and Nigeria
(5.9 per cent and 5.6 percent respectively)” (UNPD 2001).
 

Rank Country 1950 2000 2030 1950-2000 2000-2030

6 Nigeria ......... 10.1 44.1 63.6 2.94 1.22