Spatial Analysis and Location Modeling in Urban and Regional Systems

This article suggests ways in which a spatial perspective is relevant to questions of African economic history prior to formal colonization. Aspects of spatial analysis can help to identify and compare economically dynamic centres and subregions and to understand the qualities of regional and inter-regional systems. Spatial analysis can also illuminate various economic relationships between Africa and Europe; thus it is relevant to such issues as African adaptation to ‘legitimate’ trade and economic dependency. Among the main concepts discussed are central place theory, ‘growth centres’, port gateways, and dendritic marketing systems. The article focuses upon the Sierra Leone–Guinea plain and the larger Sierra Leone–Guinea inter-regional commercial system during the second half of the nineteenth century. Brief comparisons are made with other areas.

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The efficiency of areal units in spatial analysis: Assessing the performance of functional and administrative regions

Moravian Geographical Reports ◽

10.1515/mgr-2016-0010 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 47-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Pavel Klapka ◽

Marián Halás ◽

Pavlína Netrdová ◽

Vojtěch Nosek

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Spatial Analysis ◽

Regional Variability ◽

Constraint Function ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Functional Regions ◽

Regional Systems ◽

Internal Homogeneity

Abstract An attempt to provide a procedure for the assessment of the efficiency of various regional systems for the purposes of spatial analysis is presented in this paper. Functional regions as well as approximated functional regions and the existing administrative regions in the Czech Republic are evaluated, as examples of regional systems to be compared and assessed. Functional regions and approximated functional regions are defined according to the adjusted third variant of the CURDS regionalisation algorithm, using the latest knowledge on the operation of the constraint function. The comparisons of individual regional systems are based on LISA maps and particularly on the assessment of regional variability, including the measures of internal homogeneity and external variability in the regional systems.

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