The Fragmental Map. The case of urban spaces or structures

The primary purpose of this study is to establish the mapping principles of the new urban structures evolving from the spatial implications of infrastructure development. A secondary aim is to give an overview of the transport technology changes, and infrastructure expansion and integration in a 100-year perspective. The method in the overview includes the use of basic conceptions such as space-time convergence, tube quality extension and time geographic constraints. They are supplemented by some empirical conclusions based on a time spectrum from Heckscher through Aagesen, Godlund to Hagerstrand, among others. Underlying is the causality conception of social method. Expressed as the causal power, it underlines the enabling character of a phenomenon in a social context. The causal power of network extension and integration is decreasing time-distances between network nodes. The long-time growth of the first railway net and later the road net implies the slow transformation of networks from areal covering by nodes and links to a structural linking of fewer nodes and links. These network changes result in highly increased accessibility in a sample of cities and places, and in decreased accessibility in many areas in-between. These cities and places constitute an urban virtual structure. The tube quality of modern transport networks leads to the conclusion that discontinuity is a primary principle in the mapping of accessibility. The use of computer-based techniques such as distance transformation or rough isochron maps does not take this structural discontinuity into account. Topologie mapping on the other hand does not consider time-space convergence. By merging travel-time-delimited parts of cooperative transport networks around the cities and places of the named structure, a fragmental map, which takes into consideration both the tube quality and time-space convergence, can be constructed.Forsstroem Aake. The Fragmental Map. The case of urban spaces or structures. In: NETCOM : Réseaux, communication et territoires / Networks and Communication Studies, vol. 14 n°1-2,2000. The Use of ICT in a Geographical Context Research at Göteborg University, Sweden. pp. 169-189