Urban form and characteristics

• A city's urban form refers to the physical characteristics of a city such as its layout size and land use
• The majority of urban areas are established in areas with favourable resources, such as access to water food fertile land and security
• Urban forms change over time in different ways based on the physical factors of the area and human influences
• Physical factors

  • Natural resources
  • Water
  • Topography
  • Climate and land type
• Human factors

  • Wealth and development
  • Planning
  • Patterns of growth.
  • Economic activities
  • Past development
• Physical factors - Topography

  • Areas with flat topography are easier to build on meaning. Construction can be more spaced out.
  • Urban sprawl is difficult on slopes, especially at steeper, rougher areas. Meaning building can be very densely compact into one area that is suitable for buildings (E.G the Favelas in Rio)