Introduction to the Contemporary City
Code: 104525 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2503743 Management of Smart and Sustainable Cities | FB | 1 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Oriol Nel·lo Colom
- Email:
- Oriol.Nello@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Other comments on languages
The course will be taught in Catalan. The written assignments can be delivered in Catalan, Spanish and English.Teachers
- Nuria Valdovinos Perdices
- Carles Donat Muņoz
Prerequisites
There are no specific prerequisites for taking this course.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The course covers the general objectives of the subject of Urban Geography of the Degree in Management of Intelligent and Sustainable Cities. Its main objective is to provide, at an introductory level, the elements for understanding and analyzing the process of contemporary urbanization. In this way, the students will be offered the instruments to understand the city as a socio-spatial configuration resulting from the demographic, economic, environmental, cultural and political dynamics of contemporary societies.
The main topics covered will be the following:
- Introduction to the study of urban morphology and urban systems. Main trends in the process of contemporary urbanization: the expansion and integration of urban networks, the dispersion of urbanization and the dissemination of urban uses on the territory.
-The urban population. Processes of demographic transition to contemporary societies and their relationship with the urbanization process. Basic concepts related to the structure and components of population growth (relation of the natural movement and migrations to the urban phenomenon).
-The city as an ecosystem, pointing to its heterotrophic nature and its relation to the consumption of resources and energy.
-Urban Economy. Relationship between the urbanization process and the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Dynamics of industrialization and tertiarisation, fordist and port-fordist production and consumption systems.
-Urban Society. Forms of life and socialization, structure of social groups, relationships and distribution over the territory, land rent and urban segregation.
-The city as a space for collective reproduction: housing, services, transport mobility. The notion of the Right to the City.
-Urban Government. Political and administrative organization (local government, metropolitan administrations, sectoral administrations, relation with other levels of the administration), urban policies and territorial and urban planning.
Competences
- Analyse and model urban and regional dynamics using methodological instruments for qualitative and quantitative analysis.
- Demonstrate creativity, initiative and sensitivity in the different social and environmental topic areas.
- Identify and analyse government and management policies for cities in the different fields of urban development, particularly methods of public participation.
- Identify and interpret social, economic, technological and sustainability challenges in different areas such as: town planning, infrastructures, mobility, urban economies, services and equipment, cultural diversity and social inequality, energy and natural resources, waste, etc.
- Identify and use different sources, models and data bases of information generated by urban activity, as well as their principles of operation, access policies and standards.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse and understand social and territorial processes.
- Be aware of the problem and sources for studying urban movements and citizen practices.
- Demonstrate creativity, initiative and sensitivity in the different social and environmental topic areas.
- Describe urban and territorial dynamics at various scales with special reference to flux analysis , networks and forms of urban life.
- Distinguish the main sources and databases for the study of urban reality.
- Identify the institutional and normative mechanisms for governing urban realities.
- Integrate theoretical concepts from diverse scientific fields.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Use statistical, cartographic, bibliographic and regulatory sources for the study of urban reality.
Content
The syllabus of thwe course will be the following:
1. The city. Definition, morphology and limits.
2. Urban networks. The process of urbanization, metropolitanization and extensive urbanization.
3. Urban population. Definition of the urban and rural population. Causes and consequences of the urbanization process of the population.
4. Resources. The city as a heterotrophic and open ecosystem. Energy, resources and waste.
5. Urban economy. Industry, commerce and services in the city.
6. Urban mobility. Territorial patterns, temporary recurrence, motivations and modes of transport.
7. Housing. Access, tenure and market.
8. Land market, urban rent and residential segregation.
9. Social groups, urban agents and social movements.
10. Urban government. Administrative fragmentation, actors, competencies and resources.
The course will open with an introductory session and will close with one of conclusions. In the introductory session the detailed agenda of the sessions will be provided.
Methodology
IMPORTANT NOTE: THE TEACHING METHODOLOGY INDICATED BELOW MAY EXPERIENCE ANY MODIFICATION DEPENDING ON RESTRICTIONS ON ATTENDANCE AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY HEALTH AUTHORITIES. The activities that could not be done onsite will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools. Exercises, projects and lectures will be carried out using virtual tools such as tutorials, videos, Teams sessions, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives
The expected duration of the course is 12-13 weeks and will be organized around three types of work sessions:
-12 theoretical sessions (TE) of 2 hours each. In each of these sessions, the teacher will provide a ppt presentation and will recommend several readings related to the topic covered. The participation of students through questions and debate will be encouraged. These sessions will be taught by Professor Oriol Nel·lo.
-12 practical sessions (PAUL) of 1 hour each. The teacher will propose a practical exercise related to the subject matter posed in the theoretical session developed during the week.
-3 field trips (PCAM) of 3-4 hours each. These field trips will be carried out, in principle, in various locations in the metropolitan area of Barcelona and will have the objective of direct knowledge of the management of services and common urban assets.
All three sessions will involve in their set 50 hours of face-to-face activities.
The virtual Campus will be used as a means of communication between teachers and students. On the campus, the student will find the complete agenda of the subject, the presentations of the theoretical sessions, the information about practices, teaching materials and other information.
Concerning transversal competencies, the following will be worked out and evaluated in particular:
CT1.4. Develop systemic thinking.
It will be evaluated through the practices, in which the students will show the ability to integrate the various elements concerning urban problems and its management.
CT2.8. Critically evaluate the work done.
The involvement in the debate and the critical contributions made by the students will be evaluated.
CT3.1. Work cooperatively in complex and uncertain environments, with limited resources and a multidisciplinary context, respecting the role of the various members of the team
In the practical sessions, the division of tasks and the decision-making systems that each team has adopted will be evaluated.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Field work | 13 | 0.52 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 |
| Guided practical lessons | 12 | 0.48 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 |
| Guided theoretical lessons | 25 | 1 | 1, 4, 5, 7, 10 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Individual tutoring or tutoring in small groups | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 4, 5, 7, 10 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Completion of the practice dossier | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 8, 10 |
| Preparation of written assignments | 15 | 0.6 | 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10 |
| Readings | 18 | 0.72 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 |
Assessment
IMPORTANT NOTE: In the event that assessment activities cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.
The evaluation of the course will consist of three elements:
a) Two partial examinations on the content of the theoretical lessons. These examinations will be done in the middle and at the end of the semester. They represent 50% of the final mark (25% + 25%).
b) A dossier of practices that will have to be delivered as they progress in the manner that will be in due time. The dossier will integrate the results of each one of the practices carried out by the students in the sessions of practices in the classroom and as autonomous work. The dossier represents 40% of the final grade.
c) Participation in field work and classroom discussions. It will represent 10% of the final mark.
To pass the subject, the student must:
a) Have passed the exams with a minimum score of 5.
b) Have submitted the dossier of practices and have obtained an average rating of these practices of not less than 5.
c) Have regularly participated in all the activities of the course (lessons TE, PAUL and PCAM). The attendance to the theoretical lessons, the practices and the field work is mandatory. In exceptional cases of absence, the justification must be given to the teaching staff.
Rating:
The final grade of the subject will be the weighted average of each of the evaluation evidences: exams (50%), practices (40%) and participation (10%). It will consist of a score between 0 and 10. To pass the course you must have obtained a total minimum score of 5.
Re-evaluation:
a) Exams and practices will be revaluable in the manner and in the dates that will be indicated in due time.
b) In order to opt for the re-evaluation, it is necessary to have participated, in an active way, in the evaluation tests and delivered the materials of the practices.
c) In the re-evaluation the maximum grade that can be obtained for each of the re-evaluated tests will be 5.
Non-evaluated students:
In the event that any of the requirements indicated in b) are no fulfilled the corresponding grade will be "non-evaluable". In the event that an activity is not carried out -exam, practice or field work-, the mark obtained for this activity will be 0, it will not be revaluable, and this is the grade inclouded in the weighted average.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
Honours:
Honours will be awarded to those who obtain a mark greater than or equal to 9.5, up to 5% of those enrolled in descending order of the final grade. At the discretion of the teaching staff, they may also be granted in other cases.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of contents | 50% | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 |
| Field work and participation in the debates | 10% | 11 | 0.44 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 |
| Practices in the classroom and preparation of the dossier | 40% | 12 | 0.48 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 |
Bibliography
The bibliography of each part of the course will be communicated in a timely manner.