Category Urbanization

Entries 34 Total Description

Posts related to all things urbanization, which is Unit 1 in martinsaphug

Monday’s Computer Lab Instructions: Services

Oct 11, ’10 12:57 PM

Today we will be examining different types of services, and how and why consumer services are distributed in regular patterns.

The purpose of today’s activity is to prepare us to discuss Christaller’s central place theory by analyzing the different types and predicted locations of services.

Using a worksheet, we will identify several types of services, identify what size type of city these services would likely be found in, and estimate the range, threshold, and demographics for each service.  Lastly, we will provide a brief rationale for why that services is either a high or low order service, taking into account all of the information recorded.

First, we need to identify the demographic data regarding 3 different cities.  We will focus on the population size, median household income, and location relative to other cities.

Second, we will define the different types of services (Consumer, Business, and Public) as well as the following terms: Market Area, Range, Threshold, and Demographics.

Use the following presentation to develop a working definition for each of these terms:

Services_Presentation_Part_1

Third, for each service listed on your worksheet, you will identify the following questions:

  1. What type of service is this?
  2. Which cities would this service likely be located in?
  3. What would you estimate to be the range of this service?
  4. How would you categorize the threshold of this service?
  5. Briefly describe the demographic that would utilize this service?
  6. Rationale: Taking into account the given information, determine whether this would be a high order or low order service, and provide a brief explanation as to why you would rank it as such.

You will be graded on how well you utilize class time today, as well as the accuracy of your completed Services Worksheet.  Worth 20 points today and the worksheet is also worth 20 points.

Hints:

  • Consider using Google maps to search for specific services in each city.
  • You can also use google maps
  • Keep in mind you can have a service with a high range but a low threshold and vice versa.  Pay careful attention to the nature of each business, the cost of their service, and their target demographic.
  • Ultimately, you will be using this information, if you so desire, to complete an extra credit project where you design your own business.  You will incorporate each of these points of information in explaining where you will situate your business, who your customers will be, and what your range and threshold will be for your business.
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Coursework: James Kunstler TEDtalk video & worksheet

Oct 7, ’10 3:41 PM

In class today, we watched a video of James Kunstler’s talk at the TED conference on the ills of “suburban sprawl.”  Here is a link to the video.  Please take note, there is some adult language in the talk.  For an edited version, come see me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ZeXnmDZMQ

"Nature Band-Aid"

While we watched, I provided this simple worksheet to organize our notes.  In addition, there are two reflective questions on the back that were assigned as homework.

Kuntler Video notes

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Baltimore Urban Structure Model Essay Computer Lab Research

Oct 5, ’10 12:56 PM

Today in class we will be applying the urban structure models to Baltimore to answer this question:

  • Which urban development model you think Baltimore most closely follows?  Write a persuasive essay explaining your choice.  The ideal essay will have a clear thesis, and effectively explain, using specific examples how the urban model of choice applies to Baltimore.
  • Your essay should include the following: conscise yet accurate descriptions of each of the urban structure models, and a detailed explanation justifying which model you feel best applies/explains Baltimore.  You should address each of the components/layers that urban structure models try to predict.

In order to understand which model best explains the layout of Baltimore, we need to get a first sense of where each of the components in these models is situated in Baltimore. You will need to identify the following elements first and plot them on your Baltimore map:

  • the Central Business District. Try using this map.
  • the Industrial District – Try using this map.
  • the High, Middle, and Low-Rent Residential areas.  Try using this map.  Or, this map.

For the sake of a more thorough analysis, we could also plot on our B-more maps the major educational and employment centers, as well as a Baltimore zoning map to see if there is any spatial association between these various features.

If you need help plotting the CBD, industrial district, or the high, middle, and low rent residential areas you can refer to this map.

2. We must understand what each of these urban structure models say about the city to know how and whether to apply it to Baltimore.  Download the  Urban Structure Presentation to review our class discussion.  Refer to Chapter 13 Key Issue 2 in your Rubenstein text.  You are also free to look them up in google, there are generally good descriptions and interpretations of these models.  Wikipedia has a good summary of these models. (you can click on each type of model for a more detailed review).

3. What I am looking for in the essay is for you to demonstrate that you understand A.) the urban structure model you are applying  B.) how Baltimore’s urban features can be represented using the various maps and tools we reviewed in class C.) how to apply the urban structure model you have chosen to Baltimore.  In other words, what elements of this model do we see present in Baltimore.  I do not necessarily have a model in mind that I think works best.  Rather, I am looking for specific evidence that you understand these models as you apply one of them to explain the layout of Baltimore.

4. For additional points, apply spatial analysis to establish spatial associations between various phenomena in Baltimore.  Use the associated maps provided below to draw correlations between the variables distrubted through these maps.

Baltimore Mean Travel Time to Work

Baltimore City Median Household Income

Baltimore County Median Household Income

Baltimore Cancer, Stroke, Heart Disease Map

Baltimore Demographics Comparative Maps

Baltimore Map Vacant Lots

Baltimore Racial/Ethnic Distribution Dot Map

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Student Urbanization webpages published

Sep 24, ’10 10:34 AM

Your urbanization webpages have been published.  For the most part they look pretty good.

My expectation is that you will make full use of these student created summaries in your preparation for next week’s quiz.

You can click directly to the Urbanization unit page here.

You can also view them by clicking on the Urbanization category or the Student Work category.

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Analyzing Development Data

Sep 22, ’10 12:37 PM

As we study urbanization, it is vital that we first understand what development is, how it is measured, and what the development trends are per region in the world.  This is essential to understand as the world’s increasing urbanized populations have very different meanings for MDCs vs. LDCs.

In class today, we identified the social and economic indicators of development, and examined the relationship between development and urbanization.  We watched the “Slum Insight” clip from http://www.gapminder.org.

We used the following worksheet to identify some of the indicators of development, as well as to understand the idea that development is a process that can be charted on a spectrum rather than a black and white status of being “developed.”

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Instructions for Monday & Tuesday Computer Lab

Sep 20, ’10 1:17 PM

In the computer lab over the next two days we will be working in small groups to research and summarize specific points related to Urbanization, Unit 1.

Each group will receive a topic question that they will answer using a webpage that will be published on this site.

Your summary must include the following elements:

  • Clear & concise summary of the questions and all the relevant information needed to answer that question.
  • Use several illustrations to help explain your topic.
  • Provide 2 class discussion questions that relate to your topic.
  • Provide several links where students can conduct extension research regarding this topic.
  • Create multiple “meta-tags” keywords that make your page easy to find using a tag search.

For a sample page of what is expected, go to the page on urban structure models.  You are responsible for this information as well as all information included on these student created webpages.

Here are the questions along with info on where to find resources:

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HW: Urbanization in Baltimore Essay

Sep 16, ’10 12:49 PM

In class over the next several days our discussion, reading, and viewing will deal specifically with understanding the history of urbanization and urban renewal in Baltimore. To do so, we will take the issues and problems outlined in Chapter 13, Key Issue 3 and apply them to Baltimore City. We will read the article “Collateral Damage:Unintended Consequences of Urban Renewal in Baltimore, MD“ (click link to view), and view the video “Black Out”, made by a group of Baltimore youth in the group New Lens.

Your assignment is to write a 500 word response to the following questions.  You must include specific facts from both the video, Rubenstein, and from the article Collateral Damage.

This is due on Tuesday, 9/21 by midnight.  The paper must be typed.  It can be emailed to me.

1. What type of physical, social, and economic problems have inner-cities, specifically Baltimore, faced over the past 50 years? 2. Which of these problems are related to, and sometimes even caused by the process of urban renewal? In what way are these consequences unintended? In your answer, cite specific examples from Baltimore.

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HW: Chapter 13 Key Issue Worksheets

Sep 7, ’10 12:40 PM

While reading Chapter 13, complete all 4 Key Issue Worksheets by Friday 9/24

Be prepared for a reading quiz on Chapter 13 Key Issues 1 & 2 on 9/17.   You will have another reading quiz on Friday 9/24.

Here are the worksheets in pdf form:

Ch 13 Key Issue 1

Ch 13 Key Issue 2

Ch 13 Key Issue 3

Ch 13 Key Issue 4

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