Geographic complexity: Concepts, theories, and practices

Changxiu Cheng; Samuel A. Cushman; Hung-Chak Ho; Peichao Gao

doi:10.3390/ijgi11050308

Treesearch

Geographic complexity: Concepts, theories, and practices

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Changxiu Cheng, Samuel A. Cushman, Hung-Chak Ho, Peichao Gao

Year:

2022

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi11050308

Source:

ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. 11: 308.

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Abstract

Geography is a fundamentally important discipline that provides a framework for understanding the complex surface of our Earth. This complexity can be interpreted from at least two points of view according to Malanson [1]. The first interpretation is the complex pattern of geographic features. These geographic features can be either natural, such as the coast of Britain, or manmade, such as the road networks of a metropolis. The second interpretation is the interacting processes of different geographic features. In essence, these are two sides of the same coin. Spatial complexity arises from geographic driving processes, and processes, in turn, are constrained and directed by spatial patterns [2]. The interactions of pattern and process produces scale-dependent complexity in geographical systems [3].

Keywords

geography, geographic complexity, geographic features, interacting processes, spatial complexity

Citation

Cheng, Changxiu; Cushman, Samuel A.; Ho, Hung-Chak; Gao, Peichao. 2022. Geographic complexity: Concepts, theories, and practices. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. 11: 308.