Urban and regional development is a dynamic and uneven process. Within this concentration, there is a wide variety of courses addressing the dynamics of urban change, regional development and global economy, with special emphasis on the sustainable development in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China and Pacific-Asia. Through lectures, tutorials, organized field trips, as well as the use of both local, regional and international case studies, students examine the spatial organization of cities and regions, the world spatial economy, behaviours of individual agents, and collective choice in the form of urban physical planning. Courses within this concentration also emphasize the understanding of the effects of urban development, such as transport, housing, welfare and the location and relocation of economic activities in space. At regional scale, students are also exposed to different forces that contribute to development, including the globalization, the cultural dimension, population change and regional development policies.

Students may choose to declare this area of concentration by taking at least 12 units of courses below, with at least one course from GRMD2321 or GRMD3323:

• GRMD 2303 Urban Geography
• GRMD 2321 Economic Geography
• GRMD 2501 Theory and Practice of Smart Cities
• GRMD 3302 Population and Migration
• GRMD 3304 Cultural Geography
• GRMD 3305 Transport Geography
• GRMD 3323 Urban and Regional Planning
• GRMD 4302 Urban Planning Workshop
• GRMD 4402 World Development
• GRMD 4503 Smart City Policies and Governance

This concentration begins with a balanced introduction to hydrology, geomorphology, pedology, biogeography and climatology. Students are then exposed to more advanced study of environmental issues and the management of natural resources. Materials are generally taught in a system context and emphasis is placed on the integration of these various fields. Most courses also develop workshop, laboratory and/or fieldwork skills.

This concentration area enriches students with knowledge on various energy types and the methods, advantages and disadvantages of their utilization. Students will be exposed to different energy and environmental policies to understand their application and design. Furthermore, a particular focus of the training will be on the skills of critical thinking and in-depth analysis to employ the knowledge for finding solutions to real-world problems of resource and the environment.

Students may choose to declare this area of concentration by taking at least 12 units of courses below, with at least one course from GRMD3202 or GRMD3205:

• GRMD 2209 Physical Geology
• GRMD 2221 Weather and Climate
• GRMD 2401 Sustainable Development
• GRMD 2402 Natural Resource Management
• GRMD 2403 Nature Conservation in Hong Kong
• GRMD 3202 Environmental Management
• GRMD 3203 Urban Environmental Problems
• GRMD 3205 Geomorphology
• GRMD 3209 Soil Science
• GRMD 3224 Tourism Planning and Management
• GRMD 3403 Methods for Resource Evaluation and Planning
• GRMD 3404 Natural Hazards and Human Responses
• GRMD 4202 Hydrology and Water Resources
• GRMD 4203 Ecosystem Restoration and Management
• GRMD 4204 Environmental Planning and Assessment
• GRMD 4401 Energy Resources

This concentration area provides students with a wide range of geographical techniques to process and analyze geo-spatial data. These basic geographical techniques are essential for a better understanding of all other subjects in human, physical and regional geography. Certainly, geographical techniques per se are interesting subjects for study.

For students interested in advanced techniques and their application in geographical studies, they can specialize in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. Most courses include interesting laboratory work offering hands-on experience to students. The Department is well equipped with advanced GIS and digital image processing systems for study and research.

Students may choose to declare this area of concentration by taking at least 12 units of courses below, with at least one course from GRMD2104 or GRMD3106:

• GRMD 2104 Remote Sensing of Environment
• GRMD 3104 Satellite Image Analysis
• GRMD 3106 Advanced GIS
• GRMD 3108 Cartography and Geovisualization
• GRMD 3403 Methods for Resource Evaluation and Planning
• GRMD 4101 GIS Workshop
• GRMD 4502 Urban Big Data Analysis and Application
• GRMD 5110 Statistical Applications in Geography

This area of concentration is jointly offered by the Department of Geography and Resource Management and the Urban Studies Programme. The goal of this concentration is to equip students with experience, competency and entrepreneurial spirit in leveraging the digital revolution to contribute to the transdisciplinary efforts of building future cities that are not only smart but also sustainable, humane, convivial and ecological.

Accelerated globalisation and urbanisation have posed many challenges to cities, including resource depletion, climate change, global warming and socio-economic polarisation. The emerging digital revolution if harnessed smartly, can contribute to a better understanding, analysis and resolution of such issues. Smart planning, smart transport and smart grid can lead to more efficient allocation of resources and reduced energy consumption and greenhouse emissions, thus ameliorating climate change and global warming. Big data analytics, crowd-sourcing, digital engagement, sharing of information and views could be essential platforms to promote the development of a more inclusive society, polity and economy. The ambitious programmes of building smart cities in Hong Kong, mainland China and many other countries involve new ethical and moral issues, giving rise to an urgent need of nurturing talents who can employ creatively cutting-edge technologies and design thinking to plan, develop and govern our cities.

Students taking this concentration will learn about theories, concepts, technologies and best practices of smart sustainable city development. Courses in the concentration will expose students to theoretical knowledge by academics and practical knowledge by practising professionals, hands-on experience and student-centered learning activities such as group projects seeking technology-driven and creative solutions of building smart sustainable cities.

Students may choose to declare this area of concentration by taking GRMD2501 and at least 9 units of other courses listed below:

• GRMD 2501 Theory and Practice of Smart Cities
• GRMD 3106 Advanced GIS
• GRMD 3203 Urban Environmental Problems
• GRMD 4502 Urban Big Data Analysis and Application
• GRMD 4503 Smart City Policies and Governance
• URSP 2800 Urban Form, Sense of Place and Well-being *
• URSP 2900 Recommoning *
• URSP 3600 Designing Smart Cities *

* Courses offered by the Urban Studies Programme