Settlement

In this unit you will study types of settlement and how their function may change over time.

• You will investigate why aspect, shelter, resources, defence and communication have been important in choosing the location of a settlement.
  
  
• Case studies will assist you to recognise many factors essential in the past are now no longer important due to technological change.  Small scale studies of places like Wakefield will serve to illustrate this.
  
  
• Comparing cities in less economically developed countries and more economically developed countries will help you to understand the structure of settlements.
  
  
• You will look in detail at the central business district, inner city and suburbs in richer countries such as the UK, and contrast it with the formation of cities in poorer places.
  
  
• Urbanisation is set to continue throughout the world and you will make decisions about how it should be managed.  You will learn to understand the solutions planners have come up with to solve problems in settlements.