What you’ll learn13 learning objectivesChoose one objective for a focused lesson, or study the complete topic.8.2.1Urban ecosystems• Biotic components: plants, animals, life forms• Abiotic components: soil, water, air, climate, topographySyllabus objective8.2.2Urban area definition• Built-up area with high population density• Buildings and infrastructure• Cities, towns, suburbsSyllabus objective8.2.3Urban area as system• Buildings, microclimate, transport, goods/services• Power/energy, water/sewage, humans, plants, animalsSyllabus objective8.2.4Urbanization• Population shift from rural to urban areas• Land becomes more built-up and industrializedSyllabus objective8.2.5Rural-urban migration• Greater proportion now live in urban systems• Push-pull factors, forced vs. voluntarySyllabus objective8.2.6Suburbanization• Movement from dense central to lower-density peripheral areas• Urban sprawlSyllabus objective8.2.7Urban expansion impacts• Loss of agricultural land, forests, ecosystems• Water quality changes, river flow changes, air pollutionSyllabus objective8.2.8Urban planning purpose• Decide best land and building use• Meet stakeholder needs: physical, domestic, environmental, commercialSyllabus objective8.2.9Sustainable urban planning• Quality housing, public transport, green spaces• Renewable resources, waste recycling, energy efficiencySyllabus objective8.2.10Ecological urban planning• Treats urban system as ecosystem• Urban ecology: green spaces, wildlife habitats• Urban farming: beekeeping, horticulture, city farms• Biophilic design: green walls/roofs, water features, natural light• Resilience planning: vertical farming, flood-adaptive building• Regenerative architecture: air-scrubbing building skins, energy exportSyllabus objective8.2.11(HL)—Ecological planning principles• Urban compactness, mixed land use, social mix• Reduced sprawl, less car dependency, better transport• Increased accessibility and social equalitySyllabus objective8.2.12(HL)—Urban sustainability models• Circular economy, doughnut economics• Promote sustainability within urban systemSyllabus objective8.2.13(HL)—Green architecture• Minimizes harmful construction effects• Environmentally friendly materials and practices• Combines indigenous knowledge, bio-based materials, circular constructionSyllabus objective
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