1.4 Spatial Concepts

Where things are: location & distance

Absolute location pins a place with exact coordinates (latitude/longitude) or an address. Relative location describes a place based on its position to other places (e.g., "east of the river"). Absolute distance is measured in standard units like miles or kilometers, while relative distance describes distance in terms of time, cost, or effort to travel.

Spatial patterns and arrangement

Distribution describes how phenomena are arranged across space, analyzed through density (number per unit area), concentration (clustered vs. dispersed), and pattern (geometric arrangement, like linear or clustered). These concepts help geographers describe and compare where and how things are spread out on Earth's surface.

Connections across space

Space-time compression refers to technology shrinking the relative distance between places, making interactions faster and easier. Distance decay describes how interaction between places decreases as distance increases. Accessibility and connectivity describe how easily locations link to networks, influencing the intensity of interaction between places.

Key terms

Absolute location

The exact position of a place using coordinates (latitude/longitude) or an address.

Relative location

A place's position described in relation to other places or landmarks.

Distance decay

The decrease in interaction between two places as the distance between them increases.

Space-time compression

The reduction in the time it takes to interact with distant places due to technology.

Density, Concentration, Pattern

Three ways to describe distribution: number per area (density), clustering (concentration), and geometric arrangement (pattern).

Try an AP-style question

Which describes a place's site?

1. Its population density
2. Its latitude only
3. Its physical characteristics
4. Its location relative to others