1.5 Settlements and service provision

Question 1

explain the patterns of settlement

Answer 1

Nucleated: around a central point

Isolated: couple of houses not really together

Dispersed: no pattern of houses

Linear (ribbon): in a line

Question 2

describe and explain the factors which may influence the sites, growth, and functions of a settlement

Answer 2

Physical:
Water/food supply
Relief (flat land, mountainous)
Resources (fossil fuels, mines, firewood)
Climate
Soil quality
Location (proximity to sea/isolated)

Human:
Job availability
Businesses/industry
History
Communication/transportation links
Education
Entertainment
Economic development
Rural or urban

Question 3

give reasons for hierarchy of settlements and services

Answer 3

Number of services
Number of people
Number of services
How developed the transport/communication is
High/low order services
Land use
Jobs

The higher the settlement is on the hierarchy

• the higher the sphere of influence
• the higher the amount of high order goods
• the higher the number and variety of services
• higher threshold population

Question 4

case study

settlement and service provision in an area

Answer 4

Ulm and surrounding settlements

Population
City: Ulm/Neu-Ulm 170,000
Town: Senden 22,000
Large village: Erbach 13,000 Blaustein 15,000
Small village: Thalfingen 9,000
Small village/hamlet: eggingen 1,200

Ulm is the largest settlement - highest population, services, and functions. Major shopping area with department store (Galleria, H&M) on Hirsch Strasse. Comparison goods, sports stadium, university, major hospital, major train station, entertainment

Higher order services that need a high population to support them, people travel further but don’t use as often

The towns around will have less variety and smaller shops, some sport halls, local schools - middle order services

The villages will have low order goods or convenience goods, bakeries, kindergarten, general food shop

Ulm is the centre of the settlement pattern. It is a nucleated pattern with Ulm in the middle and towns/villages surrounding

If you wanted the highest order goods you would go to Munich or Stuttgart for services such as airports, government offices, etc.