L’Espace géographique 3/04

Without summaries


Antoine FRÉMONT. Reticular and territorial patterns within a port city the case of Busan in South Corea (3 tabl., 5 fig.)

Busan port is now the world’s fourth-largest container port. Traffic is increasing in a major city with a population of over four million. This growth can be attributed to the inclusion of the port city in the maritime networks of the world’s leading ocean carriers. The coexistence of port and urban functions in the same area could lead to asphyxia. Continued development will require efficient coordination of reticular and territorial patterns, on different scales, from the global to the local and vice versa.

keywords: CITY, CONTAINERISATION, EAST ASIA, PORT, SOUTH KOREA


The spatial dynamic in Porto-Novo: the effect of the diffusion of kpayo petroleum products (3 fig.)

The sale of petroleum products in the informal sector throughout the Porto-Novo urban area began in the late 1970s, with the spread of motorcycle taxis, called “zemijan” in gungbe language. The trend is so widespread now that it is a part of the economic, social, cultural and geographical landscape of Porto-Novo. A specific vocabulary has developed to describe different aspects of the trade. More and more operators are involved in this activity, which is highly sensitive to economic fluctuations. Despite many risks, the trade contributes to curbing unemployment not only in the city, but also in the urban region.

keywords: DIFFUSION, ETHNIC GROUP, INFORMAL SECTOR, KPAYO, NIGERIA, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, PORTO-NOVO, TRADE, ZEMIJAN


Marie-Laurence DE KEERSMAECKER, Pierre FRANKHAUSER, Isabelle THOMAS. Fractal dimensions and periurban realities. The example of the South of Brussels (7 tabl., 7 fig., 3 annexes)

This exploratory paper aims at showing how the fractal dimension can be used to characterise the spatial structure of built-up areas within the periurban fringe. The southern periphery of Brussels is considered here. Two estimation techniques (correlation and dilation) are applied to surface areas, and one (correlation after dilation) to the borders of built-up areas. They are applied to windows of fixed size. Fractal dimensions are then compared with traditional socio-economic and morphological indicators. The results are interpreted in the context of urban sprawl and polycentric development of the peripheries. These analyses confirm the usefulness of the fractal approach for describing built-up morphology.

keywords: BELGIUM, BRUSSELS, CENTRALITY, FRACTAL DIMENSION, PERIURBAN, URBAN MORPHOLOGY


Cyril ENAULT. Dilution: methodological note for the analysis of urban sprawl (4 tabl., 12 fig.)

The simplest definition refers to diluted areas as areas with a lower built-up content. Dilution is characterised by a gradation of developed sites as distance from the centre increases. The logistical model appears to summarise this continuum well. It is useful if we are trying to work out the difference between two periods. We can thus highlight logistics specific to the growth of built-up areas. The dynamic model makes it possible to project trends to 2010, 2020 or 2030. At the same time, we can forecast dilution patterns through difference, which leads us to the conclusion that the diluted area is likely to be extended and the warming point move farther away.

keywords: DILUTION, DYNAMICS, LOGISTIC CURVE, MODEL, PERIURBAN


Djamel RAHAM, Anissa ZEGHICHE, Kaddour BOUKHEMIS. Measuring and analysing administrative divisions. The case of the wilayas of Eastern Algeria (4 tabl., 4 fig.)

As a result of past and present human actions on the physical space aimed at optimising the spatial system, planning cannot be separated from appropriation or territorial boundaries. Territorial boundaries, defined as an operational and socialized division process and a social and political construct closely linked to history and to dominant political and ideological choices, are affected by spatio-temporal dynamics that reflect changes in appropriation processes and management modes. This paper, concerned with territorial boundaries, seeks to shed light on the administrative division principles in Algeria in general and in Eastern Algeria in particular, and to assess the main imbalances produced by those divisions. The level of spatial efficiency is evaluated by an analysis in two parts: assessment of imbalances in the spatial distribution of the population, and measurement and analysis of administrative divisions—the wilayas—by applying a shape index and Thiessen polygons. The analysis leads to some suggestions for a possible administrative reorganisation in favour of a more balanced regional space.

keywords: ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARIES, ALGERIA, REGIONAL DISPARITIES, SPATIAL ORGANISATION, SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICS


The organisation of Amazon spaces from the regional scale to the forest cover: is diversity dating back thousands of years about to disappear? (7 fig.)

Amazonian waters, forests and people are organised in two major groups: the alluvial plains (wetlands), and the interfluvial lands (uplands). Spatial variation of the physical groups is perceived differently depending on the scale of observation and according to two ecological gradients. The first gradient is linear, affecting streams and their edges from upstream to downstream, as for temperate streams (fluvial continuum). An areolar gradient is observed from the banks towards the inland, its perception being possible for the huge dimensions of this tropical river basin. An areolar gradient also characterises the spatial organisation of the interfluvial lands (shifting coastline). Two types of forest mosaics are observed in the Amazon, mostly depending on opposite processes. Interfluvial forests development depends on biotic factors and they form a mosaic of units that are proportional to the grids of forest regeneration (gaps, chablis). Alluvial forests are subject to abiotic, sedimental and hydric factors, which are responsible for their spatial organisation: in this case the forest mosaic is proportional to the scale of the micro-reliefs resulting from the alluvial dynamics. In the current view of unreasonable exploitation, man prefers to ignore the physical constraints of environments, so the traditional match between the organisation of human activity and the physical groups is deteriorating. The survival of the Amazon is at stake, in terms of both its biological and cultural richness.

keywords: AMAZON, BIODIVERSITY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SWAMP FORESTS, TROPICAL RAINFOREST


Book reviews


In this issue of l’Espace géographique, you will find critical reviews of the following books

BRET Bernard (2002). Le Tiers Monde. Croissance, développement, inégalités. Paris: Ellipses, coll. «Histégé», seconde édition remaniée et actualisée, 226 p. (par Philippe Pelletier, Université Lyon 2)

BUTTON Tim, ROBSON Garry (2003). London Calling: the middle classes and the re-making of inner London. Berg, Oxford and New York, ISBN 1-85973-628-9, 216 p., paperback. (par Hugh Clout, University College, London)

CARROUÉ Laurent (2002). Géographie de la mondialisation. Paris: Armand Colin, coll. «U», 258 p. (par Philippe Pelletier, Université Lyon 2)

HAMNETT Chris (2003). Unequal City, London in the global arena. Londres: Routledge, 292 p. (par Frédéric Richard, Université de Tours)

HOLZ Jean-Marc, HOUSSEL Jean-Pierre (2002). L’Industrie dans la nouvelle économie mondiale. Paris: PUF, coll. «Major», 452 p. (par Philippe Pelletier, Université Lyon 2)

RICHARD Y. (2002). La Biélorussie, une géographie historique. Paris: L’Harmattan, coll. «Géographie et cultures», 310 p. (par Denis Eckert, CNRS, CIEU, Toulouse)


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Last modified: November 10, 2004