Urban land use zones
Big idea: Cities are organised into distinct land use zones — areas with different primary functions. Understanding this structure helps explain urban environmental issues and planning solutions.
Major land use zones
- CBD (Central Business District): Commercial heart; offices, retail, services. Highest land values, tallest buildings, most accessible.
- Industrial zones: Manufacturing, warehouses, logistics. Often near transport links (ports, railways, highways).
- Residential zones: Housing — varies from high-density apartments to low-density suburbs.
- Green spaces: Parks, gardens, nature reserves, urban forests. Important for wellbeing and ecosystem services.
- Transport infrastructure: Roads, railways, airports, ports.
- Mixed-use zones: Combination of residential, commercial, and light industrial.
Urban land use models
- Concentric zone model (Burgess): CBD at centre, surrounded by rings of different land uses
- Sector model (Hoyt): Land uses extend outward in wedges along transport routes
- Multiple nuclei model (Harris & Ullman): Multiple centres of activity, not just one CBD
- Reality: Most cities are a combination of these patterns, influenced by history, geography, and policy
Exam tip: You may be asked to identify land use zones from maps or satellite images. Look for: tall buildings (CBD), regular housing patterns (residential), large buildings with yards (industrial).
Urban sprawl and its impacts
Big idea: Urban sprawl converts natural and agricultural land, increases car dependency, and creates environmental and social problems.
Characteristics of sprawl
- Low density: Spread-out, single-family housing
- Car dependency: Designed for driving, not walking or transit
- Segregated land uses: Separate zones for homes, shops, work
- Leapfrog development: Skips over land, creating patchy development
- Commercial strips: Big-box stores, parking lots, highway-oriented retail
Environmental impacts
- Habitat loss: Conversion of farmland, forests, wetlands
- Increased emissions: More driving, longer commutes, more energy per household
- Water issues: More impervious surfaces, reduced infiltration, increased runoff
- Heat island effect: Less vegetation, more pavement, higher temperatures
- Resource consumption: More infrastructure, more materials per person
Social and economic impacts
- Transport costs: Households spend more on cars and fuel
- Social isolation: Less community interaction, more time commuting
- Inequality: Poor left in declining inner cities; suburbs exclude lower incomes
- Infrastructure costs: Expensive to provide services over large areas
- Health impacts: Less walking, more sedentary lifestyles, more accidents
Exam tip: Urban sprawl is generally viewed negatively in ESS. Be ready to explain its causes, impacts, and alternatives (compact cities, smart growth).