locational analysis

geography

Also known as: spatial analysis, spatial science

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July 17, 2026

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Locational analysis, a core concept in geography and economics, explores why economic activities are situated where they are. Early theories, like Johann Heinrich von Thünen's agricultural location model, focused on market accessibility and transportation costs. Alfred Weber later developed a theory for industrial location, considering raw material and market proximity. Walter Christaller's central place theory explained the hierarchical arrangement of settlements. These foundational models, along with William Alonso's work on urban land use, form the basis of understanding spatial organization and economic activity distribution.12

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geography
Human geography as locational analysis
In human geography, the new approach became known as “locational” or “spatial analysis” or, to some, “spatial science.” It focused on spatial organization, and its key concepts were embedded into the functional region—the tributary area of a major node, whether a port, a…
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In human geography, the new approach became known as “locational” or “spatial analysis” or, to some, “spatial science.” It focused on spatial organization, and its key concepts were embedded into the functional region—the tributary area of a major node, whether a port, a…
Read More