Fig. 1 is an annotated aerial photograph of a rapidly growing settlement on the edge of a city. It was used in a study of urban development near an internat...
Question 1 Report
Fig. 1 is an annotated aerial photograph of a rapidly growing settlement on the edge of a city. It was used in a study of urban development near an international airport. The photograph includes a new housing estate, irrigated fields, a warehouse area and a drainage channel leading towards a river. Aerial images help geographers identify land use over a large area quickly. They cannot, however, show every social or environmental issue. The investigation team plans to visit the area to check whether the new development has altered traffic, water quality and access to services for the local population.
(a) Identify one land use shown close to the main road. [1]
(b) Identify two pieces of evidence from Fig. 1 that suggest recent urban growth. [2]
(c) Identify two likely advantages of locating warehouses near the main road. [2]
(d) Identify two possible environmental problems caused when development replaces irrigated fields. [4]
(e) Identify three pieces of primary data the team should collect during its site visit. [3]
(f) Identify one limitation of interpreting land use only from this aerial figure. [2]
Answer Details
(a) A land use close to the main road is the warehouse. The housing estate and irrigated fields are also acceptable. [1]
(b) Evidence of recent urban growth includes the new housing estate and the warehouse area. The main road serving development and buildings encroaching on fields are also valid evidence. [2]
(c) Warehouses near a main road have easier access for deliveries and lower transport time or cost. They also connect readily to the wider road network and airport. [2]
(d) Replacing irrigated fields can cause:
- loss of agricultural land and food production;
- more impermeable roofs and roads, causing increased surface runoff;
- therefore greater flood risk;
- polluted runoff entering the drainage channel or river.
Habitat loss and increased water consumption are also valid. The important chain is that development creates impermeable surfaces, so less water infiltrates and more flows rapidly into drainage systems. [4]
(e) Primary data could include a traffic count, noise readings and water-quality tests. A land-use survey, resident questionnaire and pedestrian count are also valid. [3]
(f) An aerial image may be out of date and cannot reveal building function or ownership, nor residents' views. Fieldwork is needed to check these details. [2]
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