ABSTRACT
Urban geomorphology is a key element in supplying the guidance needed to achieve a better quality of urban life and working towards more sustainable use of resources. This chapter discusses how geology and geomorphology shaped the development of cities, the geological and geomorphological hazards which some cities face and critically evaluate methods to address these hazards. It describes urban soils and classifies types of artificial ground found in urban areas. An understanding of geomorphology, the science of landforms and earth surface processes, is essential to urban development. Urban development activities often involve the nearly complete removal of vegetation exposing soil and underlying weathered rock materials to water and wind erosion. The chapter uses the complexity theory to analyse and explain the process-form interaction between geomorphology and ecology. The growing emphasis on redevelopment of brownfield sites within urban areas requires a more detailed assessment of Anthropocene geology and technosols.
