8 - Models of Basic Structures: Networks

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Terrestrial space is structured by points and fields as well as countless networks. Material networks, whether rivers and watercourses or road and rail systems, which stand out from the landscape, have been studied by geographers for years. Other networks, which are not notable, have indirect yet equally crucial effects. Energy, financial, information and social networks are undoubtedly the driving forces of globalization. We should also mention the increasingly complex business networks. These networks guarantee the well-functioning of cities. When dealing with networks, geographers first ask themselves similar questions to those we have analyzed in the previous chapter. For example, is a network random or regular? What is its form and density? However, new issues are arising, since networks assume that relationships between spaces or actors are more significant than the features of actors or spaces themselves. These questions specific to networks are dealt with in the second part after a first approach dedicated to graph theory. Then, in the third part, we will show how graph theory also offers some tools that can be used to formalize qualitative approaches very useful for geographers. Finally, we analyze network dynamic models.