Fundamental Urban Geography and City Planning Terms

Core Concepts in Urban Geography

Land Use

The various functions and purposes that are assigned to urban space.

Settlement

Refers to the spatial distribution of a population, which can be either dispersed or concentrated.

Urbanization Process

The progressive concentration of population, economic activities, and key innovations within cities, and the subsequent dissemination of these processes to surrounding areas.

Defining a City

Different criteria are often used to define a city:

• Quantitative or Statistical Criteria: Based on population figures. For example, Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE) considers municipalities with an urban population of more than 10,000 inhabitants to be cities. Conversely, some small towns do not reach this threshold.
• Qualitative Criteria: These include:
  • Morphological Criterion: Based on the formal aspect or physical structure of the city.
  • Functional Criterion: Based on urban economic activities.
  • Spatial Criterion: Based on the city's ability to organize the surrounding space.

City Plan or Layout

The arrangement of built-up and open areas in a city. Three main types can be distinguished:

• Irregular
• Radiocentric (Radial)
• Orthogonal (Grid)

Old Town (Historic Center)

The urbanized part of a city dating from its origin to the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century.

Garden Suburbs (Barrios-Jardín)

Created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these are the result of the dissemination of naturalistic and public health (hygienist) ideas.

Metropolitan Area

A large urban extension surrounding a major city, administratively encompassing several municipalities.

Metropolis

Cities at the top of the urban system hierarchy, typically with a population exceeding 250,000 inhabitants.

Conurbation

A continuous urban area formed by the parallel growth of two or more cities until they merge.

Megalopolis

Arises when urbanization reaches a supra-regional level, consisting of various interconnected urban areas with important functions, without significant breaks in development.

Site

The specific, physical location on which a city is built.

Situation

The relative position of a city in relation to its broader geographical and cultural landscape.

Urban Rehabilitation

Aims for the conservation, recovery, and revitalization of traditional urban morphology, avoiding both uncompromising conservatism and speculative renewal.