Glossary
Agricultural Density
The number of farmers in a region divided by the amount of arable land, reflecting the efficiency of agricultural practices.
Example:
The United States has a low agricultural density due to highly mechanized farming, meaning fewer farmers are needed to cultivate large areas of land.
Arable Land
Land that is suitable for farming and can be used to grow crops.
Example:
The fertile plains of the American Midwest are prime arable land, making them a major agricultural region.
Arithmetic Density
The total population of a region divided by its total land area, providing a general measure of how many people live per unit of land.
Example:
If Canada's total population is divided by its vast land area, it reveals a very low arithmetic density, despite some highly populated cities.
Bid-Rent Theory
An economic theory explaining how land prices and land use patterns vary based on distance from the Central Business District (CBD), with prices decreasing further away.
Example:
According to Bid-Rent Theory, a high-end retail store is willing to pay much more for land in the city center than a residential developer building houses on the outskirts.
Central Business District (CBD)
The commercial and often geographic heart of a city, characterized by high land values, intense commercial activity, and tall buildings.
Example:
In many cities, the Central Business District (CBD) is easily recognizable by its cluster of skyscrapers housing corporate offices, banks, and major retail stores.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
The total floor space of a building or buildings on a lot divided by the total land area of that lot, indicating building intensity.
Example:
A high Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in a downtown area means that buildings are very tall or cover a large portion of their lot, maximizing usable space.
Gross Density
The total population of an urban area divided by its total urban land area, including all types of land use.
Example:
When calculating the gross density of a city, you would include residential zones, parks, industrial areas, and roads in the total land area.
Net Density
The total population of an urban area divided by only its residential land area, excluding non-residential spaces like parks or roads.
Example:
To understand how crowded living spaces truly are in a neighborhood, urban planners often use net density, focusing only on the land where people actually reside.
Physiological Density
The total population of a region divided by the amount of arable land, indicating the pressure a population puts on the land to produce food.
Example:
Egypt has a very high physiological density because most of its population lives along the fertile Nile River valley, while the vast desert is largely uninhabitable.
Population Density
A measure of how many people are packed into a specific area, typically expressed as people per square kilometer or square mile.
Example:
Monaco has an extremely high population density due to its small size and large number of residents, making it one of the most crowded countries in the world.
Site Density
The number of dwelling units per unit of land, specifically measuring housing density.
Example:
A new apartment complex might have a high site density because it packs many individual housing units onto a relatively small plot of land.
Slums
Highly populated urban residential areas characterized by substandard housing, inadequate infrastructure, and often extreme poverty.
Example:
Many developing countries face the challenge of rapidly growing slums on the periphery of their major cities, where residents lack basic services.
Suburbs (Exurban Areas)
Residential areas characterized by lower-density housing, typically single-family homes with yards, located on the outskirts of a city.
Example:
Many families choose to live in the suburbs for more space and a quieter environment, commuting into the city for work.
Tenements
Overcrowded, often dilapidated, multi-family apartment buildings found in poorer sections of a city, typically associated with historical urban challenges.
Example:
In the late 19th century, many immigrants in New York City lived in cramped tenements with poor sanitation and limited access to light and air.
Urban Areas
Densely populated areas characterized by higher-density housing, commercial activities, and extensive infrastructure, forming cities and towns.
Example:
New York City is a prime example of an urban area, known for its towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and diverse population.