Qualitative and quantitative methods of delineation of the sphere of urban influence
Answers
Answer:
The urban sphere of influence can be defined as the geographical region which surrounds a city and maintains inflow-outflow relationship with the city.
Every urban centre, irrespective of the size of population and the nature of function, has a region of influence. Generally speaking, as the size of the population increases, the multiplicity of functions increases. As a result, the influence zone is larger and vice versa.
The term sphere of influence area was first used by Northam and supported by Canter. Other terms to express a similar entity, which have got recognised, include umland and city region. Umland is a German word which means the area around. The term was first used by the Allies in the Second World War.
The term city-region was first used by Dickinson. It is used to describe a similar situation on a much larger scale. Some other terms which have become popular include urban field, tributary area and catchment area. The term sphere of influence is preferred by political geographers.
Delineating the Sphere of Influence Area:
Several methods have been worked out by geographers and sociologists, but no single method seems to be perfect.
The pre-First World War geographers depended primarily on empirical methods (through questionnaires and field surveys) taking into account all those relevant functions which are performed by cities and the surroundings of the city. The influence zone of each function is first delineated. It brings out the multiplicity of boundaries of spheres of influence area.
Harris has suggested that a common boundary is to be drawn from within those boundaries which are very close to each other. Harris himself drew a sphere of influence area for the Salt Lake City of Utah State in USA. He used 12 important services for this purpose which included retail trade, wholesale grocery and drug sale, radio broadcasting, newspaper circulation, telephone services, banking distribution etc.
Harris scheme shows greater dependence upon the services of the cities. He practically ignored the services rendered by rural areas. Geographers like Carter, Dickinson and Green studied the sphere of influence area and their empirical methods gave due weightage to the rural services.
The post-Second World War geographers began to use statistical methods. This made the inferences more precise, logical and scientific. This method, however, has the disadvantage of being rigid. Still, it is a popular method throughout the world.
The conclusion of the method brings the delineated influence area closer to Christaller’s observations, who suggested that every urbane settlement (service centre) is supposed to have a hexagonal influence region. It solves the problem of existence of shadow zone which normally appears in the case of spherical delineation of the influence region.
The statistical method is based on the principle of gravitation. Reilly propounded the Law of Retail Gravitation to delineate the market zone of urban centres. Since marketing is a principal function, this method is used by geographers to delineate the zone of influence area.
Explanation:
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Urban spheres of influence reflect centre-to-hinterland relationship, compared with the non-central region, the center assumes more intricate economic functions, and gives more economic activities.
Explanation:
- There have been developed many urban and regional plans with the aim of urbanization and regional integration, which have become vital in guiding practices in the creation of an urban sphere and in enhancing connectivity between the city and its hinterland.
- Several methods have been worked out by geographers and sociologists, but no single method seems to be perfect.
- Geographers before the first world war relied primarily on observational methodologies (through questionnaires and field surveys) and took all the related functions performed by cities and the city's surroundings into consideration. The influence zone of each function is first delineated. It brings out the multiplicity of boundaries of spheres of influence area
- The geographers of the post-World War II started using statistical methods. This enhanced precision, logic and scientific inferences. The disadvantage of this method however is that it is rigid. However, it's a worldwide popular method.
- The conclusion of the approach draws closer the delineated area to the findings of Christaller, who proposed that each urban settlement (service centre) should have a hexagonal area of influence. This solves the problem of the existence of the shadow area which normally occurs when the region of influence is spherically delineated.
- The statistical method is centred on the principle of gravitation. Reilly propounded the Law of Retail Gravitation to delineate the market zone of urban centres. Since marketing is a principal function, this method is used by geographers to delineate the zone of influence area.
- Some development authorities have begun to use regional planning as a basis the sphere of influence. They use detailed questionnaires to understand the nature of influence. Factors including daily commuting, village functional systems, types of settlements, supply of milk, selling vegetables and circulation of newspapers are considered. This approach appears to be useful in practice
- It gives due weightage to natural hindrances. Factors like rivers, forests, marshy lands etc. are bound to modify the influence area and in that case, the statistical method is not of much relevance
- It gives due weightage to natural hindrances. Factors like rivers, mountains, forests, marshy lands etc. are bound to modify the influence area and in that case, the statistical method is not of much relevance. However, the information collected by questionnaires is properly processed by various statistical methods and a composite index with a common boundary is developed.