GGH3704
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:762181
Due Date: 14 March 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, EVALUATING THE INFLUENCE OF URBAN GEOGRAPHY APPROACHES
ON UNDERSTANDING CITIES AS DYNAMIC SPACES
INTRODUCTION
Urban geography is a complex field that seeks to understand the spatial, social,
economic, and political dynamics of cities. Over time, different approaches have
emerged to study urban geography, each offering distinct perspectives on how
cities function, change, and influence human experiences. Among these, the
spatial description approach and the humanistic approach stand out for their
contrasting methodologies and emphases.
The spatial description approach focuses on quantitative analysis, mapping, and
the spatial organization of urban features. It prioritizes territoriality, distance, and
location-based attributes to understand urban growth and patterns (Johnston,
2020). In contrast, the humanistic approach considers the subjective experiences
of urban residents, emphasizing personal meaning, attachment to place, and the
lived experiences of city dwellers (Relph, 2006).
Both approaches have significantly contributed to our understanding of cities as
dynamic spaces—ever-evolving landscapes shaped by economic trends, social
interactions, and human behavior. This essay evaluates how these two
perspectives have influenced urban geography, comparing their treatment of key
spatial elements such as territoriality, distance, and place to highlight their
respective contributions and limitations.
THE SPATIAL DESCRIPTION APPROACH: CITIES AS STRUCTURED AND
MEASURABLE SPACES
Foundations and Methodology
The spatial description approach is rooted in positivist geography, emphasizing
scientific objectivity, empirical observation, and spatial analysis. This perspective
gained prominence during the mid-20th century as urban geographers sought to
apply mathematical models and statistical techniques to explain urban patterns
(Haggett, 2015). It aligns closely with location theory, which examines how
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:762181
Due Date: 14 March 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, EVALUATING THE INFLUENCE OF URBAN GEOGRAPHY APPROACHES
ON UNDERSTANDING CITIES AS DYNAMIC SPACES
INTRODUCTION
Urban geography is a complex field that seeks to understand the spatial, social,
economic, and political dynamics of cities. Over time, different approaches have
emerged to study urban geography, each offering distinct perspectives on how
cities function, change, and influence human experiences. Among these, the
spatial description approach and the humanistic approach stand out for their
contrasting methodologies and emphases.
The spatial description approach focuses on quantitative analysis, mapping, and
the spatial organization of urban features. It prioritizes territoriality, distance, and
location-based attributes to understand urban growth and patterns (Johnston,
2020). In contrast, the humanistic approach considers the subjective experiences
of urban residents, emphasizing personal meaning, attachment to place, and the
lived experiences of city dwellers (Relph, 2006).
Both approaches have significantly contributed to our understanding of cities as
dynamic spaces—ever-evolving landscapes shaped by economic trends, social
interactions, and human behavior. This essay evaluates how these two
perspectives have influenced urban geography, comparing their treatment of key
spatial elements such as territoriality, distance, and place to highlight their
respective contributions and limitations.
THE SPATIAL DESCRIPTION APPROACH: CITIES AS STRUCTURED AND
MEASURABLE SPACES
Foundations and Methodology
The spatial description approach is rooted in positivist geography, emphasizing
scientific objectivity, empirical observation, and spatial analysis. This perspective
gained prominence during the mid-20th century as urban geographers sought to
apply mathematical models and statistical techniques to explain urban patterns
(Haggett, 2015). It aligns closely with location theory, which examines how
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
