The document provides revision tips for understanding urban geography. It discusses factors that influence urban site and location, and describes various urban functional zones. It emphasizes using map evidence to identify central business districts, analyze land use patterns, and account for the location of zones within cities. Case studies of specific developed world cities are recommended for explaining urban growth, change, and the impacts of new developments.

1. REVISION TIPS – URBAN
You should know the main factors that can affect the site of a town or
city. You should refer to a case study of a named developed world city
Referring to a named city in the developed world you should know how site and
location affected its growth
You should be able to describe functional zones in a settlement giving
map evidence to support your argument
You should be able to describe and account for the location of
functional zones within a town or city, from the CBD to the suburbs
You should be able to identify the CBD of a settlement on an OS map,
giving map evidence to support your choice. You should also be able
to compare two CBDs, referring to their location and land use
You should be able to describe the site and account for the location of particular
zones within a town.
You should be able to describe and contrast the features of urban zones within a
town or city and explain why the environments of particular zones are so different
You should be able to map evidence to suggest the likely function of a
settlement, e.g. resort or mining towns
For a named city in the developed world you should be able to
describe and account for the pattern of land uses within the CBD
Referring to a named city in the developed world you should describe
and account for changes which have occurred both within the CBD and
inner city, explaining why they were necessary and comment on their

2. REVISION TIPS – URBAN
You should be able to describe impact of new developments, in particular
urban zones and be able to discuss any problems resulting form these
changes
RBAN: GEOGRAPHICAL METHODS & TECHNIQUES
You should be able to describe and analyse land use maps, transects and survey
data, e.g. land-use maps from CBD to suburbs, and sphere of influence studies
You should be able to annotate field sketches and photographs of urban areas and
comment on the accuracy of statements describing urban patterns on maps and
diagrams

3. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 1
You should know the main factors that can affect
the site of a town or city. You should refer to a
case study of a named developed world city
Water supply
Flat land
Fertile soils
Dry firm land
Defensive site
Route centre / gap
Lowest bridging point
Mineral resources
Access to the sea

4. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 1 contd.
You should know the main factors that can affect
the site of a town or city. You should refer to a
case study of a named developed world city
Identifying site factors from O.S. maps
Contour lines to show flatness of site
Roads show accessibility of original site
Defensive sites – within meander / on high ground
Mines / quarries indicate past or present mineral
wealth

5. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 2
Referring to a named city in the developed world
you should know how site and location affected
its growth
Specific reasons for the city chosen

6. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 3
You should be able to describe functional zones
in a settlement giving map evidence to support
your argument
Residential
Industrial
Service (Retail)
Administrative
Educational
Transport
Medical
Financial
Public services
Entertainment
Religious

7. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 4
You should be able to describe and account for
the location of functional zones within a town or
city, from the CBD to the suburbs
3 most often referred to urban models:
c) Concentric
d) Sector
e) Multiple nuclei
Analyse transect of city land use – land values decrease
away from centre / prices decrease rapidly in
twilight zone (old industrial)
Land values increase toward better housing areas
of suburbs
Land values decrease toward edge of city –
industry / shopping centres / council housing
Quote examples from named city

8. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 5
You should be able to identify the CBD of a
settlement on an OS map, giving map evidence to
support your choice. You should also be able to
compare two CBDs, referring to their location and
land use
Identifying CBD’s
Roads converge
Buildings such as train / bus stations, town halls museums,
information centres, large blocks (malls), large number of
churches
Narrow street patterns show antiquity of original centre
CBD is usually central geographically – highest
accessibility
Often most central / certainly most accessible part of city
May be some streets with curves, cul-de-sacs – may
contain large terraced houses converted to offices
Comparing CBD’s
Location within settlement / general size / types of zones
closeby e.g. industry, housing / individual functions e.g.
TICs, churches

9. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 6
You should be able to describe the site and account for the
location of particular zones within a town.
The Core Area – CBD
Size / location / accessible / transport links converge / most
services here / retail, office, admin. Functions – all of which
can afford high prices of centre
The Industrial Zone
Normally on flat ground for accessibility; older areas close to
CBD; range of manufacturing – look out for name ‘works’ –
often beside railway tracks. Newer areas on outskirts –
‘rural-urban fringe’ or in redeveloped inner city – both areas
have lower land values; must be near routeways; newer
industry has smaller units than old; newer industry is ‘light’
Low cost housing
Close to inner industry zone – ‘tenements’ for workers
Medium cost housing
Further from centre – less pollution, congestion; less dense
housing pattern – often winding roads, cul-de-sacs
Area of high-cost housing
Further from CBD; low density, high value houses

10. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 7
You should be able to describe and contrast the features of
urban zones within a town or city and explain why the
environments of particular zones are so different
Housing
Identify street patterns –
Low cost = grid iron, with small narrow streets, close to
old industrial areas, unpleasant environment – mostly
tenements / low cost high density housing, replaced by
high rise flats; many people rehoused in schemes on
outskirts – layout often high density like housing they
replaced
High cost = ‘curvilinear’ streets, cul-de-sacs and
gardens – low density; more pleasant environment, with
wider streets, less traffic, less pollution. Wide range of
functions, e.g. small shopping centres, schools, open
space

11. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 8
You should be able to map evidence to suggest
the likely function of a settlement, e.g. resort or
mining towns
Settlement Function
For example – ‘mining town’, port, resort, university town,
cathedral town, market town, dormitory town.
Map evidence
e.g. Resort would have pier or conference centre, rail and
bus terminals, recreational facilities
Mining or industrial town – look for evidence of disused
collieries, mines, large scale ‘works’ or ‘factory’, plus
railway sidings
Dormitory settlements are less obvious but will be
adjacent to large cities and may still have a railway station
and / or good road links to the city / large settlement in
question; they may lack any obvious signs of industry

12. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 9
For a named city in the developed world you
should be able to describe and account for the
pattern of land uses within the CBD
See notes on Inner City Glasgow

13. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 10
Referring to a named city in the developed world
you should describe and account for changes
which have occurred both within the CBD and
inner city, explaining why they were necessary
and comment on their relative success
See notes on Inner City Glasgow

14. REVISION TIPS – URBAN 11
You should be able to describe impact of new
developments, in particular urban zones and be
able to discuss any problems resulting form these
changes
Problems
New trading estates rarely employ same number as the industry
they replaced
Growth of home (tele)working
Impacts on residential areas attractiveness
Overall loss of population to rural areas - ‘urban-rural drift’
Increase in demand for housing in the rural-urban fringe or
greenbelt
Changes to transport networks around CBD – one way systems,
bus lanes, parking restrictions etc to ease congestion – in
some instances this has caused business to lose trade –
particularly in competition with out of town shopping centres
e.g. Gyle
Regeneration schemes – vastly improved quality of housing but
had consequences for older residents and young families
(stuck in high-rise flats); families broken up, spread
throughout city; loss of community spirit

15. RBAN: GEOGRAPHICAL METHODS & TECHNIQUES
You should be able to describe and analyse land use maps,
transects and survey data, e.g. land-use maps from CBD to
suburbs, and sphere of influence studies
Ordnance Survey maps
Street patterns allow identification of older, inner city
industrial & tenement zones as opposed to newer,
suburban areas – refer to transport patterns, road, rail
and water networks to explain location of service areas
and industrial areas
Land use divided up into R.I.C.E.P.O.T.S (Residential,
Industrial, Commercial, Entertainment, Public
buildings, Offices and Transport
Urban models should help you explain pattern and land
uses within certain zones identified on map
Sphere of Influence – the area around a settlement where
its services are found e.g. area within which
department store will deliver

16. URBAN: GEOGRAPHICAL METHODS &
TECHNIQUES cont.
You should be able to annotate field sketches and
photographs of urban areas and comment on the accuracy
of statements describing urban patterns on maps and
diagrams
Detailed labels pointing out significant features
Comparisons of different areas possible
Some explanation can be added to your answer by
referring to general changes