Geography & Planning

Vocabulary for spatial analysis and urban development

Introduction

Understanding places and spaces requires vocabulary for describing geographical features, urban development, and the relationship between humans and their environments. These words appear in planning documents, geographical analysis, and environmental discussions.

This chapter presents vocabulary for geography and planning. These words help you discuss landscapes, urban issues, regional development, and the spatial dimensions of human activity.

Themes

All Advanced Vocabulary in This Chapter (27)

• aquifer An underground layer of water-bearing rock or sediment from which groundwater...
• terrain The physical features and characteristics of an area of land, especially in t...
• topography The arrangement and detailed description of the natural and artificial physic...
• latitude The angular distance of a place north or south of the Earth's equator, measur...
• longitude The angular distance of a place east or west of the Prime Meridian at Greenwi...
• hemisphere One half of the Earth, typically divided by the equator (Northern and Souther...
• plateau A large, flat area of elevated land; figuratively, a state of little or no ch...
• peninsula A piece of land that is almost entirely surrounded by water but is connected ...
• archipelago A group or chain of islands scattered across a body of water, or the sea cont...
• delta A flat, triangular area of land formed by sediment deposited where a river di...
• estuary The wide, tidal mouth of a river where it meets the sea, characterised by a m...
• tributary A river or stream that flows into a larger river or lake rather than directly...
• tectonic Relating to the large-scale structural features of the Earth's crust and the ...
• seismic Relating to earthquakes or other vibrations of the Earth; figuratively, havin...
• volcanic Relating to, produced by, or resembling a volcano; figuratively, intensely em...
• sediment Solid material such as sand, silt, or clay that settles to the bottom of a li...
• permafrost Ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years, typically found...
• zoning The division of land into designated areas (zones) with specific permitted us...
• metropolitan Relating to a large city and its surrounding suburbs and commuter areas; char...
• suburban Relating to or characteristic of a suburb — a residential area on the outskir...
• municipal Relating to a town or city and its local government; owned, provided, or mana...
• demolition The act of deliberately destroying or pulling down a building or other struct...
• renovation The process of restoring and improving a building or structure, typically to ...
• regeneration The renewal and transformation of a run-down urban area through investment, d...
• corridor A long, narrow passage inside a building, or a strip of land or airspace used...
• precinct A designated area within a town or city, often pedestrianised or set aside fo...
• transit The act of passing through or across a place; also public transport systems, ...