Geography Assignment work
Department of geography
Topic :- what is region? Discuss the types of region and
methods of Regionalization. (12 marks)
Done by-
Neha Mishra
TDC 5th Semester
Roll no.- 427
Exam Roll- 0172
Concept Of Region
A region is a basic unit of study in geography—a unit of space characterized by a
feature such as a common government, language, political situation, or landform.
A region can be a formal country governed by political boundaries, such as France
or Canada; a region can be defined by a landform, such as the drainage basin of
all the water that flows into the Mississippi River; and a region can even be
defined by the area served by a shopping mall. Cultural regions can be defined by
similarities in human activities, traditions, or cultural attributes. Geographers use
the regional unit to map features of particular interest, and data can be compared
between regions to help understand trends, identify patterns, or assist in
explaining a particular phenomenon.
Regions are traditionally defined by internal characteristics that provide a sense of
place. Their boundaries vary with the type of region, whether it is formal,
functional, or vernacular; each type has its own meaning and defined purpose.
Types of Region
Formal Region
A formal region has a governmental, administrative, or political boundary and can
have political as well as geographic boundaries that are not open to dispute or
debate. Formal boundaries can separate states, provinces, or countries from one
another. Physical regions can be included within formal boundaries, such as the
Rocky Mountains or New England. An official boundary, such as the boundary of a
national park, can be considered a formal boundary. School districts, cities, and
county governments have formal boundaries.
Natural physical geographic features have a huge influence on where political
boundaries of formal regions are set. If you look at a world map, you will
recognize that many political boundaries are natural features, such as rivers,
mountain ranges, and large lakes. For example, between the United States and
Mexico, the Rio Grande makes up a portion of the border. Likewise, between
Canada and the United States, a major part of the eastern border is along the
Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. Alpine mountain ranges in Europe
create borders, such as the boundary between Switzerland and Italy.
While geographic features can serve as convenient formal borders, political
disputes will often flare up in adjacent areas, particularly if valuable natural or
cultural resources are found within the geographic features. Oil drilling near the
coast of a sovereign country, for example, can cause a dispute between countries
about which one has dominion over the oil resources. The exploitation of offshore
fisheries can also be disputed. A Neolithic mummy of a man who died in 3300 BCE
caused tension between Italy and Switzerland: the body was originally taken to
Innsbruck, Switzerland, but when it was determined that the body was found
about 90 meters (180 feet) inside the border of Italy, Italian officials laid claim to
the body.
Functional Region
Functional regions have boundaries related to a practical function within a given
area. When the function of an area ends, the functional region ends and its
boundaries cease to exist. For example, a functional region can be defined by a
newspaper service or delivery area. If the newspaper goes bankrupt, the
functional region no longer exists. Church parishes, shopping malls, and business
service areas are other examples of functional regions. They function to serve a
region and may have established boundaries for limits of the area to which they
will provide service. An example of a common service area—that is, a functional
region—is the region to which a local pizza shop will deliver.
Vernacular Region
Vernacular regions have loosely defined boundaries based on people’s
perceptions or thoughts. Vernacular regions can be fluid—that is, different people
may have different opinions about the limits of the regions. Vernacular regions
include concepts such as the region called the “Middle East.” Many people have a
rough idea of the Middle East’s location but do not know precisely which
countries make up the Middle East. Also, in the United States, the
terms Midwest or South have many variations. Each individual might have a
different idea about the location of the boundaries of the South or the Midwest.
Whether the state of Kentucky belongs in the Midwest or in the South might be a
matter of individual perception. Similarly, various regions of the United States
have been referred to as the Rust Belt, Sun Belt, or Bible Belt without a clear
definition of their boundaries. The limit of a vernacular area is more a matter of
perception than of any formally agreed-upon criteria. Nevertheless, most people
would recognize the general area being discussed when using one of the
vernacular terms in a conversation.
Methods of Regionalization
Regionalization is the process of delineating regions. In other words we can define
reginalisation as the locating of boundaries of a region. A region is an area on
Earth's surface marked by a degree of formal, functional, or perceptual
homogeneity of some phenomenon. All regions in one way or the other , the level
of development. Regionalization may take several forms depending on;
i. The purpose of delineating regions.
ii. The criterion/criteria to be used during delineation e.g. land size, employment
rates, activity rates, migration trends etc.
iii. Data availability Regions can be delineated as; 1.Formal regions 2.Functional
regions 3.Planning/Programming regions. International Geographical Conference
distinguished principal categories of regions delineated on the basis of different
purposes.
1. Regions- areal units, including statistical areas (the basic tool for research)
2.Regions-tools for action (organizational, e.g. administrative or planning regions)
3. Regions- the goal and results of research i.e. objectively really existing regions
which should be studied and delineated.
Methods for Delineation of formal regions
Delineation of formal regions involves the grouping together of local units which
have similar characteristics according to certain clearly defined criteria and which
differ significantly from the units outside the region on the basis of certain chosen
criteria. The criteria can be unemployment rates, activity rate, migration trends,
per capita income etc. The characteristics should differ significantly from units
outside the region. The delineation depend on the development objectives.
Variables for delineation of formal region (homogeneous):Land use characteristics
Demographic characteristics; Transport infrastructure; Social service and public
utilities; Socio-economic structures.
There are two techniques for delineation of formal regions are detailed below:
1. Weighted Index Number Methods
2. Factor Analysis Method
1. Weighted Index Number Methods: In this method, some indices
(parameters) are chosen and given weights, total weights for each part is
separately calculated and areas with similar weights are carved out. This area is
termed as ‘region’. Example: For identifying employment & income level
delineation The study area is divided into several localities varying according to
unemployment rates and per capita income levels. The aim is to isolate the main
problem region; i.e. the area of economic malaise. Weights are assigned to each
criteria and when taken together and weighted.
If more than one feature is taken into consideration, the following methods are
employed: Fixed Index Method; Variable Index Method; & Cluster Method. This
methods is considered as Weight age index method outlined by Boudeville. The
aim is to isolate the main problem region; i.e. the area of economic malaise.
Weights are assigned to each criteria and when taken together and weighted, one
of the region can be isolated.
i. Fixed Index Method: Under the fixed index method, a common characteristic
feature is chosen, i.e., per capita income, percentage of literacy, etc. In this
method we should weight the each variable and after that mean value is
calculated.
ii. Variable Index Method: Under the variable index method, variable weights are
attached to highlight different levels of activities in different regions. Similarly,
you can use this method for employment & income level delineation. The study
area is divided into several localities varying according to unemployment rates
and per capita income levels.
iii. Cluster Method: The cluster method is employed to identify homogenous
regions. The cluster are mapped with the help of mapping techniques whereas
inter-related variables are mapped with the help of superimposed techniques.
The composite ranking of areas is used when the variables are too many and have
weak relations. Economists and geographers such as Ashok Mitra, Schwartzberg,
M.J. Hagood and M.N. Pal popularised different methods to delineate regions.
Whether its not possible to compare between two features, Multivarriate
superimposition is done.
2. The Factor Analysis method: In this method, each parameter is mapped
out separately and then all the maps are kept one over the other. The common
region that will be carved out after this exercise will form a region. Smith used
this method for delineating economic-health regions. Smith identified 14
industrial criteria on a local employment exchange area base and 14 socio-
economic criteria on a local authority base. Many of these criteria are
interdependent. The factor analysis method can be used to isolate these factors
and to group areas on the basis of factor loadings. Smith identified ‘industrial
change’ and industrial structure’ as major industrial factors, and ‘population
change’ and ‘social structure’ as major socio-economic factors. These factors help
in delineating economic health regions.
Example: To carve out South Eastern mineral Region. The parameters considered
were geology, minerals (coal, iron ore, bauxite, silica), availability of rail, soil,
vegetation, climate, and population. Each line depicts an aspect and is called
girdle. The area which satisfied 6 girdles was carved out and was called the SE
resource region.
Methods of delineation of functional region
There are two methods popular in Functional Region Delineation
1. Flow Analysis
2. Gravitational Analysis Method
1. Flow Analysis Method (based on actual observation )
• Flow analysis builds up functional regions on the basis of the direction and intensity of flows between
the dominant Centre and surrounding satellites. Each flow will show decreasing intensity as it becomes
more distant from the main Centre and increasing intensity as it approaches another Centre. The
boundary of the sphere of influence of the dominant Centre will be where the flow intensity at a
minimum. When the flow significantly drops that means interaction/origin’s influence drops. In terms of
distance, in a particular direction, there is the influence of the node and there onwards it drops. This
gives cut off points. Tentative delineation is done.
• In the flow analysis, the processional regions are demarcated based on the direction and intensity of
flow between the principal center and the sub-cities around it. The flow decreases according to the
distance from the principal center and the effect increases as it approaches the other center. Where the
flow intensity around the principal center is minimal, there is a limit to the circumference of the effect of
that center. This flow can be of any kind, economic, objective, social and political etc. Goods,
passengers, roads and railways under economic influence; Purposeful flows include buying, exchanging,
etc.; The social flow includes the flow of students or patients, the political flow includes the flow of
government expenditure, the information system (telegram, newspapers etc.).
2. Gravitational Analysis Method: The basis of the origin of gravity analysis lies in
Newton's theory. It is based on the possible value of human interaction.
• It is generally assumed that the interaction between two centers is in direct proportion to the mass of
the centers and is inversely proportional to the distance between the centers.
• Simple Gravity Model Interaction, Between Two Centers Directly Proportional to the Mass of the
Sentence and Inversely Proportional to the Distance Between the Center.
• Samuel Stauffer tested this theory in a study of the spatial, habitat dynamics of Cleveland Ohio towns
in the United States. They concluded that the number of moving families up to a certain distance was
inversely proportional to the opportunities received at that distance and the number of times they
received to reside in the same value-neighborhood of intermediate vacant houses.
• Newton used the following formula for the law of gravity.
Fiji = k * m1M2 / √d1d2
This model can be used to evaluate the geo-differential action as follows:
Fiji = a * PiPj / √didj`b
In which both Pi and Pj represent the population of the ij center or an element of attraction, d is the
distance between the two centers i and j above, a is an approximate standard constant and b is the
distance. The value ij b is assumed to be 2.0 in the fundamental gravity model.
• For example, if two cities A and B each have a population of 1000, are located at a distance of 10
kilometers, and the values of a and b are given as 1 and 2 respectively, then the entire interaction will be
calculated as follows :i= 1* 1000*1000/10*10=10000 unit.
conclusion
By using above methods, it is possible to demarcate the core and external (boundary) areas of any
regions. The demarcation of planning regions essentially involves the process of proximate grouping of
regional units. In this direction, two methods are used in reginalisation.
1. Diffusion Analysis method
2. Correlation and Regional- Grouping/ Analysis method.
In fact, the importance of quantitative methods in demarcation of planning regions is becoming so well
accepted that in comparison with the qualitative aspects of the specific aspects of the state, it can be
done in the real measurement context. For determining the boundaries of the planning regions, the
quantitative or controlled index reference point is controlled by Quantative value.
