URBAN GEOGRAPHY http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/learningzone/clips/7811/

Task
Using a local map try to identify the site factors for Peebles.

The influence of geology on our landscape
Duration : 04:42
Modern digital terrain model technology is transforming our perceptions of geology and the influence of rock type on both the physical and human landscape.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/learningzone/clips/7771/

Task - Copy these notes
Site and Situation
The location and growth of an settlement depended upon its site and situation. The site was the actual place where people decided to locate their settlement. The growth of that settlement then depended upon its situation in relation to accessibility and availability of natural resources.
• fuel supply (wood)
• south-facing slope (aspect)
• flat land, easy to build on
• natural harbour
Site Factors
• Bridging point
• Dry point
(away from flood risks)
• Nodal point
• Defensive
• Wet point
(reliable water supply)
• building materials
(stone or wood)
• fertile land
• shelterered from winds
Situation Factors
• route centre
• gap town (A town located in a pass to an upland area which benefits from being a focus of routes.)
• lowest bridging point on a river
• port
• minerals for export

Task
Using Google Earth or an Atlas try to confirm the following for Barcelona's Site and Situation
Site Situation
• Hill for defence
• Reliable water supply for drinking and power
• Fertile farmland
• Flat land for building
• Sheltered by hills to the north
• South-facing slope
• Natural harbour
• Construction material
• Bridging point
• Port
• Route Centre
• Limestone quarries
• Close to wealthy NW
European markets

RURAL
19th Century 20 th Century 20 th Century
(MEDC) (MEDC) (LEDC)
Market - Farming Mining
Route Centre
Small Service
Town
Defensive
Dormitory and
Overspill
Manufacturing
Route Centre
Religious
Trade /
Commerce
Administration
Manufacturing
Route Centre
Service
Commercial
Administration
Market - Farming
Route Centre or port
Mining
Commercial
Cultural /
Religious
Resort /
Recreation
Residential
New Towns
Service

SETTLEMENT
RURAL
(COUNTRYSIDE)
URBAN
(BUILT UP AREAS)
Hamlet Village Market Town Large Town City
Conurbation
(Megalopolis)

• Central Place Theory suggests that there is a pattern in the distribution and location of settlements of different sizes, and also, in the ways in which they provided services to people living within their sphere of influence.
• The ideal shape for the sphere of influence of a central place is circular, as then the distance from it to all points on the boundary is equal.
• BUT – circles leave some areas without services and some are served by more than one central place.
• Hexagons are used instead in order to fully (and equally) cover the whole area.

• Urbanisation is an increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas (towns and cities).
On a world scale this has happened twice:
• In MEDCs – during the 19 th century due to industrialisation.
• In LEDCs – since the 1950s due to a high natural increase and migration from rural to urban areas.

• Urbanisation: Growth of cities and towns
• Suburbanisation: People and industries move out to the edge of towns and cities
• Counter-urbanisation: Movement of industry and people to small settlements outside urban areas.
• Re-urbanisation: The movement of industry and people back into urban areas (left abandoned after industrial closure or suburbanisation)

Answer the following questions:
• 1 Describe the location of the world’s major cities.
• 2 Describe how the location of the world’s largest cities has changed between 1900 and 2000.

• Urbanisation is now in decline in some MEDCs and has been replaced by counterurbanisation.
• People are now moving back out of cities to rural areas because of problems such as crime, unemployment, traffic congestion and social problems such as vandalism.
• Many people still work in the city but live in the cleaner environment of the countryside.
For example in dormitory towns and commuter settlements.