Environment and Development / Term 1 / 2019

Urban Development Module

Please note:
(a) These are the main points covered during the 4 sessions on ‘urban development’.
(b) This is only an outline.
(c) Please do not forget that all the material from the lectures, discussions and readings are also
relevant to the final exam.

Land, Rent and Zoning

1.1 centrality – rent – variations

What is rent? What determines rent? What causes variations in rent?
What is the relation between rent, use and centrality?
Concentric Zones model and critique

1.2 planning – zoning – control

What are the controls of land development?
What is FAR?
Why are skyscrapers not feasible everywhere?

1.3 location – location – location

What are the parameters for site selection?
Differences between showrooms, outlets and offices?
What is agglomeration? How does it affect site selection?
Cases of Ikea and Starbucks

Informal Cities

2.1 prevalence – significance – complexity

How prevalent is the informal sector and where?
In which sectors does it work?
What is the difference between ‘illegal’ and ‘informal’?
How do we define ‘informality’ and why is the definition important?

2.2 definition – stigma – the ‘formal’

What is the definition of informality?
Is the definition sufficient? Are there any flaws?
Negative definition and ensuing problems

2.3 urban informality – housing - rent

What are the four main kinds of informal settlements? What is the difference between them?
Where are informal settlements typically located in cities and why?
What have been the policy approaches to ‘solving’ the problem of informality?
Tourist Cities

3.1 growth – urban nexus – benefits

Difference between international and domestic tourism in India?
How are cities linked to tourism?
What are the economic benefits of the tourism sector?

3.2 capacity – land use – urbanization

How does tourism adversely impact urban areas?
What is the meaning of ‘carrying capacity’?
Other approaches to tourism management

3.3 heritage – growth – management

What is heritage? Where do you find it in the city?
Choosing between preservation, conservation and restoration
Typical issues of tourism management in India

Future Cities

4.1 energy – post oil – urban form

What do Indian cities need to do to prepare for the EV future?
If an affordable alternative to oil is found soon, what would be the effect on cities?
What would be the effect on rents?

4.2 technologies – society – cities

What are other technologies that will shape cities?
What are the current questions related to these technologies?
What are the potential issues related to big data?

4.3 other futures – low tech – sustainability

Does sustainability rely only on technology?
Have we used current technology optimally?
How have older technologies been used more effectively in other cities?