DELIMITATION OF THE TERRITORIES BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AGGLOMERATION

Abstract

Presently, the significance of major cities is increasing. This is confirmed by the trends in the spatial development of territories. Major cities are the centres of gravitation of closely located settlements, and together they form an integrated system – an agglomeration. Over the past few years, such spatial formations as agglomeration become more and more popular. In the course of study of agglomeration processes there are the issues most of which do not yet have a decisive answer, in particular the issue of agglomeration territories delimitation. With this in view, the paper considers existing domestic and foreign methods for delimiting agglomerations. The spatial structure of an agglomeration was determined. Key criteria used for distinguishing a territory as an agglomeration are suggested. There has been developed the method of delimitation of the territories being under the influence of agglomeration, including the development of a unified structural model. The structure of the model is made up of five stages, namely: recognition of the territory as agglomeration; characterization of the city centre (core) of the agglomeration; delimitation of the territories being under the influence of agglomeration in two directions (considering and ignoring the administrative and territorial division); characterization of the territories being under the influence of agglomeration; checking the development of the territories being under the influence of agglomeration. Indicators were developed to evaluate the degree of appurtenance of a region to zone of agglomeration influence. They help identifying better the most investment attractive administrative regions and determine those of them that are perspective and can be included in the future in the zone of influence of an agglomeration.