Human Settlement Science: Perspectives, Issues and Cases

The chapter seeks to explore and discuss various aspects of human settlements by revealing some of the elements that help shape them when faced with changing cultural needs in trying to solve some of the urban challenges caused by increased urbanisation such as the sprawling of cities, increased traffic congestion and increased pollution in the urban sphere. The background of the argument emanates from the observation that human settlements have continuously evolved, hence the need for effective planning to promote sustainable development of present and future cities. The study engaged a desktop review of literature and results indicate that planners and various interested stakeholders can use city designing studio and the studying or urban and regional morphometrics to positively influence city growth to reduce crime. It is concluded that disasters have become an unavoidable part of most human settlements. It is recommended that planners be able to utilise city designing skills to influence the rate of crime in cities and the rate of climatic changes and disaster occurrences in cities. The study also recommends a well-defined disaster risk management framework that can be used as a yardstick. Local solutions can be crafted to avoid and reduce the impacts of disasters on the environment and human lives