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Defining Locality Boundaries with Synthetic Data

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  • Mike Coombes

    (North East Regional Research Laboratory, Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, University of Newcastle, Claremont Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, England)

Abstract

Boundaries can be defined by applying a number of alternative techniques to various types of information; the choices made on these decisions should reflect the purpose for which the boundaries will be used. In this paper I report research to define a set of localities intended to provide an up-to-date and relevant definition of local communities across Britain for the very varied purposes of academic social scientists. First, the multidimensional nature of modern localities are outlined. Three established types of regionalisation procedure are then reviewed, leading to the identification of an appropriate method for analysing a suitable dataset. At the same time, it is concluded that a broadly based set of boundary definitions requires a more innovative approach in order to collate the many strands of evidence which are relevant to locality definitions. The response here is the development of synthetic data which codifies the critical information in any boundary set into a form which can then be combined with other, similar evidence. This leads to the first empirical challenge, which is to collect or create boundary sets which each provide a relevant strand of evidence for locality definitions. I apply the preferred regionalisation method to the synthetic data which has been created, and illustrate the localities which have been defined on this basis. I end by suggesting some other ways in which synthetic data might be analysed to provide insights into patterns of spatial association at the local scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Mike Coombes, 2000. "Defining Locality Boundaries with Synthetic Data," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 32(8), pages 1499-1518, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:32:y:2000:i:8:p:1499-1518
    DOI: 10.1068/a29165
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. S. W. Hess & J. B. Weaver & H. J. Siegfeldt & J. N. Whelan & P. A. Zitlau, 1965. "Nonpartisan Political Redistricting by Computer," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 13(6), pages 998-1006, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carlo Ratti & Stanislav Sobolevsky & Francesco Calabrese & Clio Andris & Jonathan Reades & Mauro Martino & Rob Claxton & Steven H Strogatz, 2010. "Redrawing the Map of Great Britain from a Network of Human Interactions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(12), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Scott Orford & Charlotte Leigh, 2014. "The Relationship between Self-reported Definitions of Urban Neighbourhood and Respondent Characteristics: A Study of Cardiff, UK," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(9), pages 1891-1908, July.
    3. Vicente Royuela & Javier Romaní & Manuel Artís, 2009. "Using Quality of Life Criteria to Define Urban Areas in Catalonia," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 90(3), pages 419-440, February.
    4. Pratt, Matthew D. & Wright, Jim A. & Cockings, Samantha & Sterland, Iain, 2014. "Delineating retail conurbations: A rules-based algorithmic approach," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(5), pages 667-675.
    5. Colin Jones & Mike Coombes & Neil Dunse & David Watkins & Colin Wymer, 2012. "Tiered Housing Markets and their Relationship to Labour Market Areas," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 49(12), pages 2633-2650, September.
    6. Mike Coombes, 2014. "From City-region Concept to Boundaries for Governance: The English Case," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(11), pages 2426-2443, August.
    7. Shortt, Niamh K. & Moore, Adrian & Coombes, Mike & Wymer, Colin, 2005. "Defining regions for locality health care planning: a multidimensional approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(12), pages 2715-2727, June.

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