What is the study of human settlement known as?

The study of human settlement is known as ekistics, which specifically focuses on the science of human settlements, including the factors that influence their formation, development, and evolution. The term was coined by the Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis in the mid-20th century and encapsulates various aspects, such as the population density, environmental concerns, and the socio-economic dynamics that shape where and how people live.

Ekistics encompasses a holistic view of urbanism and rural settlements, recognizing the interplay between human activities and their physical environments. It examines not only the design and planning of spaces but also the cultural and societal contexts in which these settlements exist. This discipline recognizes that human settlements are complex systems that require integrated approaches to understand their growth and sustainability.

While urban planning is closely related and often intersects with the study of human settlements, it mainly focuses on the methods and practices of designing and regulating land use, rather than the broader theoretical framework that ekistics provides. Sociology and geography, on the other hand, explore societal behaviors and spatial relationships, respectively, but do not specifically focus solely on the intricate dynamics of human settlements as a dedicated field of study.