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, GRMD3305 or GRMD3323:

• GRMD 2303 Urban Geography
• GRMD 2321 Economic Geography
• GRMD 3302 Population and Migration
• GRMD 3304 Cultural Geography
• GRMD 3305 Transport Geography
• GRMD 3323 Urban and Regional Planning
• GRMD 3402 World Development
• GRMD 4302 Urban Planning Workshop

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 2292 Understanding Ecotourism
• 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 3401 Energy Resources for Carbon Neutrality
• 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 4403 Methods for Resource Evaluation and Planning

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 2106 Introduction to Satellite Design and Application
• GRMD 3104 Satellite Image Analysis
• GRMD 3106 Advanced GIS
• GRMD 3108 Cartography and Geovisualization
• GRMD 4101 GIS Workshop
• GRMD 4403 Methods for Resource Evaluation and Planning
• GRMD 4502 Urban Big Data Analysis and Application
• GRMD 5110 Statistical Applications in Geography

This concentration prepares students to harness digital innovation in creative and responsible ways to integrate sustainability considerations into urban governance. Contemporary cities face a wide range of challenges, including climate change, resource depletion, and socio-economic polarisation, that threaten the wellbeing of both their human and non-human communities. In this concentration, students will develop essential technical competencies in deploying smart technologies, from smart sensors to big data analytics, to deepen understanding of these issues and inform effective governance strategies. At the same time, the concentration cultivates students’ critical awareness of the social dimensions of the expanding use of smart technologies, including ethical concerns, governance frameworks, and economic interests. This dual focus ensures that students are equipped not only to implement technological solutions, but also to assess and navigate their wider impacts, thereby contributing meaningfully to the transition of cities toward more sustainable pathways of development.

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

• GRMD 2401 Sustainable Development
• GRMD 2501 Theory and Practice of Smart Cities
• GRMD 3106 Advanced GIS
• GRMD 3203 Urban Environmental Problems
• GRMD 3305 Transport Geography
• GRMD 3323 Urban and Regional Planning
• GRMD 4502 Urban Big Data Analysis and Application
• GRMD 4503 Smart City Policies and Governance