Keith Mack
Waldo Tobler first introduced the concept that would become the first law of geography in 1969. Tobler's law, as it came to be known, was proposed during the quantitative revolution in geography, which saw a shift towards using systematic and scientific methods in the field. The law states that everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things. This concept has been foundational in the field of geography and spatial analysis, with applications in environmental monitoring, urban planning, and public health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Law | Tobler's First Law of Geography |
| Person Who Discovered | Waldo Tobler |
| Year of Discovery | 1969 or 1970 |
| Field | Geography |
| Summary | "Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things." |
| Basis | Cost distance or distance decay |
| Usefulness | Disputed by some |
| Related Concepts | Spatial autocorrelation, spatial interpolation, spatial regression models, spatial analysis, spatial dependence |
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What You'll Learn
Waldo Tobler's first law
The first law of geography is the foundation of the fundamental concepts of spatial dependence and spatial autocorrelation. It is used specifically for the inverse distance weighting method for spatial interpolation and to support the regionalized variable theory for kriging. Tobler's law is also applied in the field of economics. For example, in the distribution of retail stores in a city, stores located close to each other are more likely to have similar customer demographics, purchasing patterns, and types of goods sold.
Tobler's first law has been influential and widely cited in academic and research literature. However, some have disputed the usefulness and validity of the law, arguing that it is limited and may require amendments. One example of a proposed amendment is Robert T. Walker's combination of Tobler's first law with von Thünen's concept of accessibility.
Despite the criticisms, Tobler's first law remains significant in the field of geography and has contributed to the development of spatial analysis and our understanding of spatial relationships. It is considered a direct product of the quantitative revolution in geography, which saw a shift towards using systematic and scientific methods.
In conclusion, Waldo Tobler's first law of geography is a fundamental concept in spatial analysis, influencing our understanding of spatial relationships and the field of geography as a whole. While criticisms and proposed amendments exist, the law continues to be a prominent and influential idea with a wide range of applications.
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The foundation of spatial dependence
Waldo Tobler first introduced the concept of spatial dependence in 1969, which later became known as the First Law of Geography. Tobler's law states that "everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things". Tobler first presented this idea during a meeting of the International Geographical Union's Commission on Qualitative Methods and later published it in 1970 in his paper "A Computer Movie Simulating Urban Growth in the Detroit Region".
The foundation of Tobler's law is based on the concept of cost-distance or distance decay, which suggests that there is a greater hindrance to two places that are farther apart. This idea is similar to the Law of Demand in economics, which states that there is an inverse relationship between the price of a good and the quantity demanded. Both laws highlight the significance of distance or proximity in determining the strength of interactions or relationships.
Tobler's law was proposed during the quantitative revolution in geography, which saw a shift towards using systematic and scientific methods in the field. This paradigm shift moved the discipline from idiographic geography to an empirical law-making nomothetic geography. The law-making approach during this time facilitated the acceptance of Tobler's law, which can be seen as a direct product of the quantitative revolution.
While Tobler was the first to present the concept as the first law of geography, it existed in some form before him. For example, in 1935, R.A. Fisher stated, "the widely verified fact that patches in close proximity are commonly more alike, as judged by the yield of crops, than those which are further apart." Some have disputed the usefulness and validity of Tobler's law, arguing that the entire concept of laws in geography and the social sciences is questionable. Despite this criticism, Tobler's law has had a profound impact on spatial analysis and modelling and has become a foundational concept in the field of geography.
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Spatial autocorrelation
Waldo Tobler is credited with formulating the First Law of Geography, which states that "everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things." Tobler first introduced this concept in 1969 during a meeting of the International Geographical Union's Commission on Qualitative Methods, and later published it in 1970 in his paper "A Computer Movie Simulating Urban Growth in the Detroit Region."
This law is foundational to the concepts of spatial dependence and spatial autocorrelation. Spatial autocorrelation describes the degree to which a variable is correlated with itself through space. It helps us understand how similar or dissimilar nearby objects are to each other. In other words, it quantifies the clustering or dispersion of similar features. Spatial autocorrelation is closely tied to Tobler's First Law, as it measures the spatial relatedness and patterns that Tobler's law describes.
One popular measure of spatial autocorrelation is Moran's Index, or Moran's I. Moran's I can be positive, negative, or have no spatial autocorrelation. It measures the correlation coefficient between a variable and its neighboring values. Other indices and statistical methods, such as semi-variograms, are also used to assess spatial autocorrelation. These tools help geographers understand the spatial patterns of diseases, economic activities, and various other phenomena.
While Tobler is credited with formalizing the First Law of Geography, it is important to note that similar concepts existed before him. For example, in 1935, R.A. Fisher made a similar observation, noting that "patches in close proximity are commonly more alike, as judged by the yield of crops, than those which are further apart."
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Spatial interpolation
Waldo Tobler is credited with discovering the first law of geography, which states that "everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things." Tobler first presented this idea during a meeting of the International Geographical Union's Commission on Qualitative Methods in 1969, and it was later published in 1970 in his paper "A Computer Movie Simulating Urban Growth in the Detroit Region." This law is the foundation of spatial dependence and spatial autocorrelation concepts and is specifically utilized for the inverse distance weighting method for spatial interpolation.
Deterministic interpolation methods are based on predetermined spatial contexts such as the extent of similarity or the degree of smoothing. They do not provide an assessment of errors with predicted values. Inverse distance weighting, modified Shepard interpolation, Spheremap interpolation, and nearest neighbor interpolation are examples of deterministic methods.
On the other hand, stochastic or probabilistic interpolation methods consider random functions, including the spatial dependence between points. They quantify the spatial autocorrelation among measured points and account for the spatial configuration of sample points around the prediction location. Stochastic methods offer an assessment of prediction errors with estimated variances. Ordinary kriging and universal kriging are examples of stochastic interpolation techniques.
The choice of interpolation method depends on the specific application and data characteristics. Spatial interpolation is a powerful tool in spatial analysis, allowing us to fill in data gaps and make predictions about unknown values based on known sample points. It has a wide range of applications, including predicting elevation, rainfall, chemical concentrations, and noise levels.
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The second law of geography
Furthermore, Tobler's second law introduces the concept of friction of distance, where distance hinders interaction between places. The farther two places are apart, the greater the hindrance or cost. For example, individuals are less likely to travel long distances to purchase an item when it is available closer by. This friction of distance, combined with increasing costs, results in a distance decay effect.
In addition to Tobler's second law, several other scholars have proposed candidates for a second law of geography. One such example is Arbia's law of geography, which states, "Everything is related to everything else, but things observed at a coarse spatial resolution are more related than things observed at a finer resolution." Another proposal is based on the concept of spatial heterogeneity, which emphasizes heterogeneity as "an inescapable characteristic of geography." This proposal is attributed to David Harvey by Michael F. Goodchild, and it is often cited by Chinese geographers as the "second law of geography."
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Frequently asked questions
Waldo Tobler discovered the first law of geography.
The first law of geography, also known as Tobler's law, states that "everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things."
The first law of geography was first presented by Tobler during a meeting of the International Geographical Union's Commission on Qualitative Methods in 1969. It was later published in 1970 in his paper "A Computer Movie Simulating Urban Growth in the Detroit Region."
Tobler's first law of geography is a foundational concept in the field of geography and spatial analysis. It has had a profound impact on spatial modelling and underpins many techniques used in GIS (geographic information system).
