The problems of typology of urban settlements, classification and assessment of urban landscapes
The article covers the problem of typology of urban settlements, classification and assessment of urban landscapes. The research aims to develop a new typology of urban settlements in Belarus, to justify the classification of components of urban landscapes and methodology of ecological and geochemical assessment as a basis for development of practical solutions in the field of spatial planning and optimization of the urban environment. The structure of urban landscapes and ecological state of urban environment is the subject of the research. The research focuses on the following problem issues: insufficient consideration of environmental factors in the development of a typology of urban settlements, the lack of practical implementation of the results of classification and assessment of urban landscapes. Systemic and landscape scientific approaches have been used as methodological basis of the research. Therefore,the typology of settlements of Belarus is based on the historical and geographical data. Classification of urban landscapes has been developed based on Master Plan and remote materials. Ecological state of urban landscapes has been assessed using geochemical data on the content of heavy metals in soil and vegetation. As results, the new typology of urban settlements has been developed, based on the type of relief and watershed location. 5 types of urban settlements have been identified: valley, riverside, lakeside, riverine, watershed settlements. The structure of urban landscapes is an specific; therefore, the classification includes only two levels defined in each settlement: group of species, species. Development of maps of urban landscape and their ecological and geochemical assessment is the final stage of the research. The division of the urban areas according to the level of favorable/unfavorable environmental state for inhabitants has a practical significance and application. The results of the research could be used by design and research institutions, city administration. Conclusions: the results of the research contributes to the development of theoretical provisions of landscape ecology and demonstrates possibilities of the practical use of the results for spatial planning for the case study of city Zhodino.