MA-SEM III
CC-10 - Unit –V
Quantitative Geography & Research techniques
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CONTENTS
Introduction
Conceptual background
The Gravity Model
Other Models
Criticism
Model questions
Suggested Readings
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INTRODUCTION : GRAVITY MODEL
The gravity model is a popular mathematical model used to
predict the interaction between two or more places.
In geography it has been used to simulate a variety of
flow patterns, such as traffic and mail flows, telephone
calls, and migration.
Essentially, the gravity model can be used to account for
any interaction or flow that is expected to move from one
place to another.
This idea has generated many mathematical manipulations
of the model.
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CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND
The original gravity model is based on Newton's law
of gravitation, expressed as :
Gij= MiMj /(dij)2
where Gij is the gravitational bond between objects i and j,
G is the gravitational constant,
Mi and Mj are measures of the attractiveness of masses i
and j,
and d2 ij the square of the distance between objects i and
j.
The theoretical principle of the gravity model is two fold:
(1) The degree of interaction is directly proportional to the size
of the Ma
(2) The degree of interaction is indirectly proportional to the
distance that separates them.
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GRAVITY MODEL
Social scientists have been using a modified version of Isaac Newton's
law of gravitation to predict the movement of people, information, and
commodities between cities and even continents.
The Carey-Stewart-Warntz conceptualized "gravity model", of the so-
called "social physics school" of geographical research, one of the four
schools of quantitative geography, according to human geography
historian Ron Johnston, in which population potential maps, or
distributions of populations divided by distances between cities, are
central.
It takes into account the population size of two places and their
distance. Since larger places attract people, ideas, and commodities
more than smaller places and places closer together have a greater
attraction, the gravity model incorporates these two features.
The relative strength of a bond between two places is determined by
multiplying the population of city a by the population of city b and then
dividing the product by the distance between the two cities squared.
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THE GRAVITY MODEL
The gravity model was expanded by William J. Reilly
in 1931 into Reilly's ”law of retail gravitation” to
calculate the breaking point between two places where
customers will be drawn to one or another of two
competing commercial centers.
Equation : 𝑃𝑎 𝑃𝑏
𝑀𝑎𝑏 = 2
𝐷𝑎𝑏
Where a & b is two centres, Pa & Pb is its Population;
Dab is distance between the centres a and b;
Mab is Interaction between two centres
Dab - 7 km
a b
Pa -4500 Pb -6000
Breaking point-3.6 km
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GRAVITY MODEL ….
The basic gravity model formulation is the foundation of origin-
and destination-specific models. It takes the following form:
where I ij is the interaction between places i and j, k is a
constant, Pi and Pj are measures of the size of places i and j
(e.g., populations), dij is the distance between places i and j,
and b is the friction of distance.
Larger values of b indicate that the interaction between i and j
declines more rapidly with increased distance. Commonly, origin-
specific models are used to predict flows from one place of
origin to several destinations.
With destination-specific models, flows are predicted from
several origins to one destination.
The gravity model was later reformulated to account for a
network of interactions between places.
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GRAVITY MODEL ….
E. G. Ravenstein applied these principles and the gravity model
concept to the social sciences with a study of migration patterns
during the 19th century.
Generally, three types of gravity model have evolved since
Ravenstein's formulation:
(1) Origin specific,
(2) Destination-specific, and
(3) Network or Potential models.
Potential model is important in geographical research. Results of
the potential model show the position of each place relative to
all other places. Often, the results are illustrated spatially with
a potential surface map.
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OTHER MODELS
Some other models based on Gravity Model
Gravity Model is Further Developed in different calculation of
Potentials like as:
Working Population Model: Mab= WPa WPb/(dab)2
Goods Shop Model: Mab= SaSb/(dab)2 Where S = Shops
Population Density Model: Mab= PDaPDb/(dab)2
Per Capita Income Model: Mab= PCIaPCIb/(dab)2
Travels Mean Model: Mab= MTaMTb/(dab)2
Communication line Model: Mab= MCaSMC/(dab)2
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CRITICISM
Opponents of the gravity model explain that it can not be
confirmed scientifically, that it's only based on
observation.
Most criticism of the gravity model has concerned its use
as a predictive tool.
They also state that the gravity model is an unfair method
of predicting movement because it's biased toward historic
ties and toward the largest population centers. Thus, it
can be used to perpetuate the status quo.
Others believe that the model is biased toward existing
spatial patterns and that this will perpetuate the status
quo.
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MODEL QUESTIONS
Q1. Describe the conceptual background of ‘Gravity Potential Model’ ?
[Link] Population and distance are the two most significant factors
in determining the extent of the relationship and interaction
between two cities. Explain this statement with reference to
Gravity Model.
Q3. Critically Examine the Gravity Potential model.
Q3. Write short Notes on:
I. Reilly's The law of Retail Gravitation Model
II. Ravenstein’s Gravity Potential Model
Contact me:
Mob/ WA: 9006640841
Emai:supriyavatsa52256@[Link]
Webpage: [Link]
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Barnes, Trevor J. and Wilson, Matthew W. (2014). “Big Data, Social Physics,
and Spatial Analysis: the Early Years” (in: Big Data & Society, Jun.
SUGGESTED READINGS
Carey, Henry C. (1858-59). The Principles of Social Science (Vol I , Vol
II, Vol III). J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Haynes, K. & Fotheringham, A. (1984). Gravity and spatial interaction models.
Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Hartshorne, R., Perspectives on Nature of Geography, Rand MacNally, 1959.
Johnston, Ron J. and Sidaway J. (1997). Geography and Geographers: Anglo-
American Human Geography Since 1945 (pgs. 62-73). London: Arnold
Kaushik (2009) Bhaugolik Chintan avam Bidhitantra (Hindi) , Pp.384-386,
Rastogi [Link].
Ravenstein, E. The laws of migration. Journal of the Statistical Society of
London vol. 48 pp. 167–235. (1885).
Stark, Werner. (1962). The Fundamental Forms of Social Thought (pg.
143). Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Stewart, John Q. (1940). “The Gravity of the Princeton Family,” Princeton
Alumni Weekly (pgs. Feb 9; in: Box 3, folder 9, John Q. Stewart Papers, Rare
Books and Special Collections, Princeton University.
Stewart, John Q. (1947). “Empirical Mathematical Rules Concerning Distribution
and Equilibrium of Population” Geographical Review, 37(3):461-85
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