Parameter

Artificial landscape

Urban landscape

Rural landscape

Tribal landscape

Location

Typically defined by town limits or urban agglomeration areas.

Can be found outside of town limits or urban agglomeration areas.

Outside of village limits or rural areas.

Relief of the landscape

Plateaus

Plateaus

Valleys and hills

Land use

Consists of a variety of land uses, including single family and multi-family residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and open space; the non-residential land uses are most visible from major roadways.

Primarily residential and open space with some commercial areas.

Primarily open space (agricultural) and residential.

Function

Material supply and spatial.

Ecological nature protective and material supply.

Material supply ecological recreational and aesthetic.

Development patterns

More than 50% developed; clustered development with very little open space; significant open space is typically limited to parks and other recreation areas or in areas where environmental conditions prohibit development; characterized by dense development on smaller lots.

25% - 50% developed; clusters of development surrounded by open space; clusters of development surrounded by open space; characterized by single family homes arranged on smaller, subdivided lots.

Less than 25% developed; mostly open space with scattered development; characterized by single-family homes on large parcels.

Utilities

Utilities, especially overhead, and signage are especially common and highly visible.

Overhead utilities prevalent and visible.

Overhead power lines exist along most major roadways; transmission lines are likely to cross roads.

Signage

Directional, way finding and traffic signage is prevalent throughout urban areas.

Directional, way finding and traffic signage is infrequent and concentrated around developments.

Directional, way finding and traffic signage is infrequent.

Human settlements

Towns and urban agglomerations

Mandals and Villages

Villages and Tandas

Dominant human population

Urban population; employees and businessmen

Rural population; farmers and labour

Tribal population; hunters and gatherers

Population density

High

Medium

Low

Primary occupation

Industry

Commercial agriculture

Hunting and gathering food and subsistence agriculture

Landscape type

Artificial

Semi-artificial

Sub-natural

Naturalness/wilderness

Low

Medium

High

Degree of reduction of original natural patch types to a scattered pattern

High

Medium

Low

Degree of dominance of natural features

Low

Medium

High

Degree of dominance of man-made features

High

Medium

Low

Degree of technicization

High

Medium

Low

Degree of road infrastructure development

High; offers the most diverse roadway system, from interstates to residential streets; people can travel between points very quickly using multiple routes.

Medium; offers a mix of roadways similar to urban areas but less concentrated; people can travel between points quickly, but have fewer route options.

Low; fewer transportation opportunities; longer driving distances and times and few route options.

Degree of industrial development

High

Medium

Low