URBAN SETTLEMENTS: URBAN LAND USE

Land Use Models:

A model is a simple representation of complex reality. It simplifies and helps us understand the real
complex world. Land use was studied based on cities and generalisations were made. Often in
geography models are used to try to explain something that we can see in the physical environment.
During the 20th century a number of models were developed to try to explain how urban areas grew.
Although models show a very general idea of the shape of the city, all of the ones described here have
aspects that can be seen in most cities in the developed and developing world.

DRAW:

BURGESS (CONCENTRIC) MODEL

NB: low class= high density residential areas and high class= low density residential areas

• Burgess based his model on the city of Chicago.

• At its core is the CBD, or Central Business District.
• This is the area with the highest land price, which could only be afforded by businesses.
• Around this is the zone of transition, which is where industry located.
• In many cities in the UK, such as Birmingham, this zone can be quite easily identified.
• However in most cases the industry has moved out, leaving the zone empty and in need of
renewal.
• Beyond the zone of transition are the rings of residential housing.
• As people became more wealthy they could afford to live further out of town, in bigger
houses, with larger gardens.
• The houses closest to the centre originally would have housed the workers for the inner city
industries.
• As people moved away from the CBD, the houses closest to the centre would be taken by
newly arrived immigrants to the city, either from elsewhere in the country or abroad.
 DRAW:

HOYT`S (SECTOR/WEDGE) MODEL

• The sector model has a similar idea of a CBD to Burgess.

• This is still the area with the highest land price.
• Hoyt then used transport routes to determine where his other sectors would be located.
• He still had a zone of transition around the CBD, but he also had industry fanning out from
the center along major transport routes.
He assumed that "Like would attract like", which is why he decided that land-uses would
concentrate to form sectors, rather being in rings, like Burgess thought.
• The lowest class housing would be closest to the industry, and probably be located where
the prevailing winds would blow the pollution towards them (and away from the higher
class housing).
• The high class housing also is in a sector of its own, running all the way from the CBD,
where many of the residents would work, to the outer suburbs.
 Land use model in LEDCs

• The Burgess and Hoyt Models of cities in MEDCs do not work for LEDCs
• Thus, based on cities of the developing world, using some of the ideas found in the MEDC
models, but also incorporating the urban features only found in LEDC cities land use models
in LEDCs was developed.
• The CBD is still central to the urban area, and is the area of highest land price.
• However around it is the most expensive residential areas.
• In some places, such as Sao Paulo, this means huge luxurious high-rise apartment blocks,
whilst in others, such as Delhi, the former colonial areas are the most lucrative in which to
own property.
• Industrial development is along major transport routes, whilst there are also sectors of high-
class housing.
→ ACTIVITY: Look up what a favela is and where they are located.
→Draw Complete Geo pg 64 fig 2.39

Land use in MEDCs

The land in urban areas is used for many different purposes:
• leisure and recreation - may include open land, eg parks or built facilities such as sports
centres
• residential - the building of houses and flats
• transport - road and rail networks, stations and airports
• business and commerce - the building of offices, shops and banks
• industry - factories, warehouses and small production centres

The CBD in the city centre is where most business and commerce is located. A CBD can be
identified by some of the following:
• high/multi-storey buildings
• expensive land values
• department stores or specialist shops, like jewellers
• shopping malls and pedestrian precincts
• cultural/historical buildings, museums and castles
• offices, finance, banks, administration, town hall (business sector)
• bus and railway stations (transport centres)
• multi-storey car parks

The CBD is located in the centre because it is:

• a central location for road/railways to converge
• the most accessible location for workers
• accessible to most people for shops and businesses

Changes in land use in urban areas

With time, several factors have changed, which has seen several new patterns and trends of
development in cities and towns across the world. CBDs have become increasingly overcrowded and
congested. They have become less accessible as cities grow and people have found themselves living
much farther away from the centre. Several important developments (changes) include the following;
Changes that have taken place in CBD

• Pedestrianised zones
The CBD has changed as a result of congestion being the most accessible part of the city.
Businesses have left this part opting for less congested, quieter zone away from centre leaving a
run down centre an aspect of inner decay.

ACTIVITY: where is Harare have you seen business starting to pop up outside of the CBD?

Evidence of this is vacant offices and shops. High rents also push out business as well as lack
parking space-Some roads have been closed to vehicles and to create pedestrianised areas certain
streets at the centre have been closed off to vehicular traffic or only public transport and delivery
vans are allowed. This has reduced accidents and air pollution from exhaust fumes. Pedestrians
are safer to walk around. Additional space from closed roads is used for sitting areas, small trees,
shrubs and flower beds. Cafes have outside tables and street theatre in some cities. Shopping malls
have been introduced.

• Older Housing
Houses of an inferior quality and design and lacking in space have renovations done in a process
known as gentrification. Shopping malls and old office blocks and have been pulled down and
redeveloped as shopping malls. Shopping is done under cover in a controlled environment and
shops are closer together as well as providing eating and drinking and entertainment. Out of town
shopping centres with shopping malls which had easy access and free parking space and had an
added advantage of one stop shopping-all shopping done at one mall or shopping centre-have a
meal and entertainment in multiplex cinemas. The result was shops started to leave the congested
city centres to set up in new out of town locations. Leaving a run down centre.

- New leisure activities such as theme parks attract people to them.

- Improved security through security guards and CCTV to shopping malls increase
people to shopping areas.
- Multi storey parking space has been provided as solution to problem of shortage of
parking space.
- Use of brown field sites

• Changes to Inner City Areas

Inner city sites (areas just outside and adjacent to the CBD) of many cities had large old traditional
industry. As industry changed the sites became unsuitable for modern industry which needed large,
flat, easily accessible sites. Many became derelict and abandoned. These areas have been
regenerated (improved). Many were river and coastal industrial areas which have been cleaned
up to provide excellent residential and business sites.

Narrow streets, old residences next to old industrial zone have given way to changes that have seen
old buildings being pulled down to produce brownfields creating an eyesore. Some of the brown
field sites have been built on again as the CBD grows outwards. This process of building on
brownfield sites is called redevelopment.

Brownfield sites are disused and derelict land exists in urban areas. Building on brownfield sites
is expensive as there is a need for clearing-up operations (especially if the proposed development
is on a former industrial site).
• Gentrification-This is where old houses and buildings in or near the centre which are often large
and well constructed are renovated and brought up to modern standards. Gentrification has several
advantages over pulling down old areas and rebuilding.

• Rural –urban fringe is the boundary zone outside the urban area proper where rural and urban
land uses intermix. It is an area of transition from agricultural and other rural land uses to urban
use. Located well within the urban sphere of influence the fringe is characterised by a wide variety
of land use including dormitory settlements housing middle-income commuters who work in the
main urban area. Over time the characteristics of the fringe change from largely rural to largely
urban. Suburbanisation of villages takes place at the urban boundary of rural-urban fringe.

Apart from changes in the central parts of the cities and towns there has been a great deal of changes
on the edge of the urban areas where they meet the rural countryside. In UK and the rest of Europe
and in North America urban areas spread out dramatically in a process known as urban sprawl. This
is the spreading outward of a city and its suburbs leading to changes in the surrounding rural area. It
occurs in all areas of the world, but it is particularly noticeable in countries such as the USA, Canada
and Australia where urban areas tend to have low-density suburbs (single or two story houses with
large gardens.)

Impacts of the Urban Sprawl

• Loss of biodiversity as virgin land is lost in land clearing at construction sites and in road
construction.
• Peace and tranquillity of the countryside is lost to the din of city life this often results in conflict
between the locals and in migrants. Conflict is also possible between developers (of out of town
shopping facilities, airports, amusement parks, industrial and science parks ring roads and
motorways) and environmentalists.
• Differences in culture city culture and the conservative rural life often cause conflicts.
• The cost of land and rental increase as more people settle in the area.
• Valuable farmland being used for building purposes
• Villages become swallowed into the city and lose their identity. E.g. Dundrum
• Inadequate services-
1 Poor public transport means more people resort to private cars > Traffic congestion
2 Poor water quality
3 Waste disposal problems associated with Landfill and Incinerator
4 Nothing for young people to do contributes to anti-social behaviour
5 Overcrowded Schools/Hospitals
 Land use Positive aspects Negative aspects
Agriculture Many well-managed Farms often suffer litter,
farms and small-holdings trespass and vandalism;
some land is derelict in
the hope of planning
permission
Development Some well-sited, Some developments, such
carefully landscaped as out-of-town shopping
developments such as areas cause heavy traffic
business and science flows and pollution.
parks Unregulated businesses
such as scrap metal and
caravan storage. Airport
expansion
Urban services Some, such as reservoirs Mineral workings, sewage
or cemeteries, may be works, landfill sites etc,
attractive can be unattractive and
polluting
Transport New cycle ways and Motorways destroy
footpaths can improve countryside and promote
access to the countryside new development,
particularly near junctions
Recreation and sport Country parks, sports Some activities such as
fields and golf courses stock car racing and
can lead to conservation scrambling erode
ecosystems and create
localised litter and
pollution
Landscape and nature Many SSSI (sites of Much degraded land e.g.
conservation special scientific interest) land ruined by fly-tipping;
and AONB (areas of many SSSIs under threat.
natural beauty)

Suburbanised Villages/Towns: dormitory or commuter villages/towns with a residential population

who sleep in the village/town but who travel to work in the nearby large urban area. The suburbanised
village has increasingly adopted some of the characteristics (new housing estates, more services) of
urban areas. Cheaper land open space attracted development as new housing areas grow next to
villages in a process of suburbanised villages. As people got rich people could drive to and from
(commute) work in city and drive back to village. See New Wider World pg 64: changes in Thurston,
Suffolk.
CASE STUDIES EXAMPLES:

An urban area with urban sprawl: Atlanta, USA

• Atlanta is the largest metropolitan area in the Southeast of USA.

• Atlanta's urban land area expanded 47 percent between 1990 and 1996. These trends are likely to
continue. Some experts believe that the region's population could double by 2050.
• Fastest growing metropolitan city in USA
• Population increase from 1.4m to over 5m in 36 years – results in urban sprawl (expanding into
rural areas – RURAL-URBAN FRINGE).

Problems Created
• Air + noise pollution is the 4th worst in the US – 90% of residents drive to work respiratory
illnesses are common (bronchitis, asthma etc.)
• Suburbs along Chattahoochee river increase run-off and contaminate drinking water septic tanks
are necessary
• Farmland has been bought up and replaced with shopping malls etc. – farmers’ livelihoods taken
• 125 hectares of trees are lost per day by deforestation in the city
• Concrete and asphalt mean that surface water cannot drain away – FLASH FLOODS +
CONTAMINATION
• “Hotlanta”: concrete and removal of trees leads to a heating effect – 10ºC higher than in the
countryside

Solutions
Steps are being taken in response to the environmental problems created by rapid growth in the
state. For example,
• the Georgia General Assembly established the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority in
1999 to oversee transportation and land use in the metropolitan Atlanta region.
• Georgia's Community Green Space Program is designed ultimately to protect 20 percent of
Georgia's land as greenspace.
• Atlanta has begun to promote "smart growth" projects in which homes and businesses would be
within walking distance of one another.
• In addition, residents are starting to move back inside the city limits. The 2000 census shows that
population densities are rising, and the actual city of Atlanta reversed its long population decline
by adding 22,000 people during the 1990s.
• Effective remedies against the environmental problems created by sprawl will require growth
management strategies that protect the quality of Georgia's water and air and the high quality of
life enjoyed by its citizens.
A rapidly growing area in a developing area: Mumbai, India

-Mumbai is a mega city on the west coast of India

-It’s is the capital of India and is the biggest city with 12,350,000 people

-In 1947 Mumbai’s population was 4 million

-An increase of more than 8 million people have occurred due to internal migration - more than half
of that increase occurring between 1960-1970

Causes of urban growth:

A rapid amount of people are drawn in from the countryside due to work being so varied from highly
skilled jobs to practical work and people believe they will have better life chances in the city

• Travellers from Europe used the ports that became known as “The gateway to India”. The area
around the port became industrialised as a result and became used for importing and exporting goods.

• A variety of services grew around the port and this led the city to grow during British rule, and even
more rapidly when British rule had left in 1947.

• Banking, finance and insurance that were associated with the ports allowed Mumbai to become a
major source of finance. This enabled Mumbai’s economy to grow and is allowing it to become a
world city

Problems caused by urban growth

• Problems with health occur due to pollution from within the shanty towns and heavy industry causes
air pollution that also contributes to poor health

• Widespread poverty and unemployment due to so many moving to the area and the high birth-rate
means there isn’t enough employment

• Poor education leads to people being unemployed as they haven’t the skills and knowledge needed
and too many people mean that schools and public services can’t deal with the amount of people

• Land value in Mumbai is expensive due to there being little land so it makes it impossible for those
living in shanty towns to afford homes. This results with people living in illegal shanty towns that
increase the health problems due to them being so cramped.

• Asia’s second largest slum is Dharavi and is home to 800,000 people which has cheap, poorly made
housing

• Poor transport links as they are so busy and cramped with commuters as there are so many living
within the city

• Pollution increases due to those living in the shanty towns

Solutions:
• In 1970 a plan was introduced to move the port, markets and industrial functions out of the old city
to Navy Bombay on the east. The idea was to also move workers too. The plan was partially successful
but the problem in Dharavi had to be sorted.

• More than 600,000 live in Dharavi (next to the CBD), and the idea was to move the housing and
people will be re-housed into temporary accommodation.

• The two storey homes will be replaced by seven storey so that it can house more people. Those who
can prove they have been living in Dharavi since 1995 will receive free accommodation

• The new buildings will have to have infrastructure including roads, water, drainage, schools,
industrial estate etc.

• However, the project cannot go ahead unless the majority of the registered residents in the shanty
town agree. However, the unregistered people will have their views ignored

• Governments and developers have used underhand tactics to make people sign the agreements.

• There are fears amongst the people that the government won’t actually build alternative
accommodation but instead will be replaced with higher value developments for businesses and
companies to allow the city to continue to expand.

Urban Problems: Rio, Brazil

Rio was formerly the capital of Brazil until the government decided to locate the capital inland in
Brasilia.
• Approximately 10 million people live in and around Rio.
• It is a city of contrasts with rich people living in luxury around Copacabana beach and the vast
majority living in poor conditions around the edge of the city.
• Problems in the city include housing, crime, traffic and pollution.

HOUSING
• An estimated 0.5 million are homeless.
• Approximately 1 million live in favelas (informal shanty settlements). Two examples are
Morro de Alemao and Rocinha. (YOU MUST KNOW THESE NAMES!!)
• Another million live in poor quality government housing in the periferia.
• The favela housing lacks basic services like running water, sewerage or electricity.
• The houses are constructed from wood, corrugated iron, broken bricks and tiles or other
materials found lying around.
• Favelas are often found on land that is steep, by the side of roads, railways etc and flash floods
can destroy such houses and take people’s lives.
• At first the government tried to bulldoze such communities but now they remain because of the
community spirit, samba music and football etc.

CRIME
• Favelas are thought to be associated with drugs, violence etc. Tourists to Rio are warned not to
enter favela areas or take valuables to beaches etc.
• Some wealthy are moving to new towns to avoid crime.
TRAFFIC AND POLLUTION

• Mountains around the city keep the fumes in the city and make the vehicles use a limited
number of routes. This results in congestion and noise
• A vast amount of rubbish is produced and in favelas this is not collected. Along with open
sewerage drains it results in the spread of diseases.

SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS

1. SELF HELP HOUSING ROCINHA
Most of old temporary wooden houses replaced by brick and tile and extended to use every
square centimetre of land.
Many residents have set up their own shops and small industries in the informal sector.
Governments have added electricity, paving, lighting, water pipes but the steep hills still restrict.

2. FAVELA BAIRRO PROJECT

1990S government chose 16 favelas to improve using 250 million euros.
Replaced wood buildings with brick and gave each house a yard.
Widened the streets so that the emergency services and waste collectors could get access.
Improved sanitation, health facilities and sports facilities.
Used residents for labour to develop their skills and in return residents paid taxes.

3. NEW TOWN BARRA DA TIJUCA

Land outside to South of Rio was uninhabited until motorway was built in 1970s
Rich moved out of Rio to avoid problems of city
It has 5km of shops, schools, hospitals, offices, places of entertainment etc
Spacious and luxury accommodation in 10-30 floor high rise apartment blocks with security and
facilities or detached houses.
Both adults in each family chose to work in high paid jobs tp pay for expensive life.
Families with own cars but also well connected with public transport.

These areas have own favelas as housekeepers, gardeners etc cannot afford accommodation.

Traffic Congestion: London

Probably one of the most common problems is congestion. The problem of congestion is caused by
multiple factors, including:
Increase in car ownership
Limited amount of public transport or expensive public transport or overcrowded public transport
Roads not designed for cars, but rather horses and people.
Population growth and rural-urban migration
The movement of freight (containers) onto lorries
The problems caused by congestion can be divided into social, environmental and economic
problems.

SOCIAL PROBLEMS ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

CAUSED BY PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CAUSED BY CONGESTION
CONGESTION CONGESTION

1- As car ownership increases 5-More vehicles on the roads 8-Building new roads is very
so does the amount of increase the amount of air expensive, especially when
pollutants released by cars. pollution, but also noise private property is purchased,
This can lead increased chest pollution. thus cost the government money.
problems e.g. asthma.
6- Increased car ownership has 9-Late deliveries caused by
2 - People travelling to work increased road building which traffic jams costs companies and
have to leave home earlier and often leads to the destruction of the economy money.
arrive back later, therefore greenfield sites.
spending longer away from 10-Workers also arrive late to
their families. 7-The air pollution can work because they are stuck in
contribute to acid rain and the traffic.
3- More cars on the roads greenhouse effect
increases the frequency of 11-It creates a reliance on oil
accidents and more oil is used at slow
speed than normal travelling
4- More traffic jams can speeds
increase the frequency of road
rage.

Traffic pollution kills 5,000 a

year in UK, says study - BBC
article

London has tried a number of different things to reduce the problems of congestion. They include:

Congestion charge: Drivers are now charged to drive into the centre of London. The charge is
about $15 a day. The idea is to encourage people from cars and onto public transport.
Barclays bike hire and bike lanes and work showers: The is now a bike hire scheme in
London sponsored by the bank Barclays. People can now borrow bikes for a short period at minimal
cost. Bike lanes are being create to make using a bike cheaper and workplaces have been
encouraged to install showers, so people can cycle to work and wash when they get there.
Reintroduction of trams: Trams which are like buses that run on train tracks in the road have
been reintroduced to South London. Trams were an early form of public transport common in most
British cities. Unfortunately most were removed as car ownership increased. They are
environmentally good because they run on electricity and don't release greenhouse gases.
Extension of the underground: New lines have been recently built or upgraded. The Jubilee
Line was the latest big extension which goes from Central London out to East London (near the site
of the 2012 Olympic Games).
Pedestrianisation: Some areas of London including the north side of Trafalgar Square, Leicester
Square and much of Covent Garden have been pedestrianised to make it safer for people walking
and to discourage car use. Pedestrianisation means removing cars from the roads and making them
walking only areas.
 Improved rail links (Crossrail and East London Overground and Docklands Light
Railway): London is currently undertaking one of the biggest engineering projects in Europe by
building a railway from east to west London under the city. This railway will decrease travel times
and is called Crossrail. London is also improving or extending railways in the East of London near
the site of the Olympics.
Bus lanes and priority traffic lights: The amount of buses have been increased and old ones
renewed. Also some bus lanes have been created to avoid the traffic lights and also bus lanes are
given priority at lights. This should hopefully make buses quicker than cars and encourage more
people to use public transport.
Car sharing (pooling) and car sharing lanes: Websites have been created to encourage people
to share cars who travel on similar routes. Also road lanes have also been dedicated to people with
more than one person in them.
Working from home and Flextime: Improved technology has allowed more people to work
from home and also flexitime has meant people can travel at different times reducing the traffic
peaks. Flexitime is people have to work a set number of hours a week, but aren't given specific start
and finish times. This allows people to start early or finish late, or do both and then earn days off.
Reurbanisation: This means the movement of people back in the centre of urban areas (near the
CBD). By encouraging people back into the centre then commuter times and traffic jams should
decrease.
Increased car tax and petrol duty. Possible carbon tax and car park tax: Already the
government has increased petrol tax and increased car tax on big cars to encourage people to drive
smaller cars. In the future it has been proposed to introduce further carbon taxes and possibly a tax
on car parking spaces.
Park and ride: This is not used widely at the moment but will be used a lot during the Olympics.
Car parks will be built on the edge of London next to train stations and bus routes. People will then
park their cars on the edge and transfer to public transport to reduce traffic.