site meaning
the actual location of a settlement
-is composed of the physical characterisitcs of the landscape specific to the area
situation meaning
the location of a place relative to its surroundings and other places
nucleated settlements characterisitcs
- dwellings clustered together
- shape of settlement is compact
- people live close to neighbours
- easy access to shops and schools
- closeness helps in defence and social benefits
dispersed settlements characteristics
- scattered isolated dwellings
- can develop in agricultural areas where soil is not very fertile so people need to farm large areas
- culture can play a role as tradition may be to live far from each other
- sometimes found n modern areas with huge commercial farms
linear settlements characteristics
-long thin rows along roads and rivers
-allows each dwelling access to road/river for transport
-found in valley floor near rivers to avoid steep slopes in upper course
also found in floodplains where soil is fertile
relief influence of physical factors in determining settlements
low lying land with gentle slopes usually has nucleated settlements
soil influence of physical factors in determining settlements
areas with fertile soil usually have nucleated settlement plan
water supply influence of physical factors in determining settlements
access to rivers usually have linear settlements
accessibility influence of physical factors in determining settlements
high accessibility areas have nucleated/linear settlements
resources influence of physical factors in determining settlements
nucleated
hierarchy of settlements up to down
- conurbation
- city
- large town
- small town
- village
- hamlet
- isolated dwelling
order of settlement meaning
refers to size of settlement
sphere of influence meaning
area served by a settlement;settlements of higher order have a larger sphere of influence
order of service meaning
- depends on the threshold population
- services with a large threshold population are called high order services
- services with a small threshold population are called low order services
threshold population meaning
- the minimum number of people needed to provide a large enough demand of service
- higher order services need higher threshold population
services of smaller settlements
provide a limited range of services and goods for sale as people travel short distances for these services
services of larger settlements
- large towns and cities provide a wider range of goods and services
- people travel long distances for some of these services but less frequently
what are high order goods
- comparison goods
- before people buy them they compare prices and quality
- are not bought often
what are low order goods
- convenience goods
- used regularly
- do not need to comapre prices
features of urban areas
- central business district
- industrial areas
- residential areas
- rural-urban fringe
central business district characterisitcs
Location: city centre
Function: offices, shops. administrative buildings, tourist attraction
accessibility: linked to the rest of the city by main roads and public transport
-land value: highest in the city because the space is limited and there is big competition to build in this zone
industrial areas characterisitcs
location: next to cbd
function: factories and residential for workers
accessibilityL linked by train to mines or other factories + transport of goods
-land value: low since lots of space available
residential area characterisitcs
- location:outside industrial area
- function: serve as housing
- accessibility: good transport to CBD
- land value: space for houses
rural urban fringe characteristics
- location: at edge of city
- function: contain big houses for the rich
- accessibility: lack of public transport but roads to CBD
- land value: space available
