Sunday, January 29, 2017
Good idea, dumb implementation
RCS discusses an attempt to show the economic connectivity of cities. Seems to be proposing new states or regions drawn on the basis of connectivity.
Their connectivity map:
And the proposed provinces:
A good concept. Provinces or counties were originally designed to be spokes from a hub, usually a day's walk or a day's ride. Electoral districts in Canada are literally called ridings.
But the authors have missed the basic point of connectivity in modern times. Cities are connected by culture and skills and business, not by distance. The RCS map misses badly in the Plains. They connect Kansas City to Wichita, and OKC to Tulsa, based on efficient turnpike mileage. Nope, doesn't work that way. Tulsa is more closely tied to Kansas City by Eastern cultural influences. Wichita connects to Denver, not to KC. OKC has a strong connection to Dallas.
Here in the NW, the authors do catch the separation of the Cascades, but completely miss the Mormon Nation. Mormonia is all of Utah, most of Idaho, most of Wyoming, and part of Montana. The map shows this area as unmarked Terra Incognita, with only the SLC metro area influenced by SLC. The authors show Spokane connecting southward into Oregon. Nope, Spokane connects eastward into part of Montana and northward into part of BC.
And the proposed provinces:
A good concept. Provinces or counties were originally designed to be spokes from a hub, usually a day's walk or a day's ride. Electoral districts in Canada are literally called ridings.
But the authors have missed the basic point of connectivity in modern times. Cities are connected by culture and skills and business, not by distance. The RCS map misses badly in the Plains. They connect Kansas City to Wichita, and OKC to Tulsa, based on efficient turnpike mileage. Nope, doesn't work that way. Tulsa is more closely tied to Kansas City by Eastern cultural influences. Wichita connects to Denver, not to KC. OKC has a strong connection to Dallas.
Here in the NW, the authors do catch the separation of the Cascades, but completely miss the Mormon Nation. Mormonia is all of Utah, most of Idaho, most of Wyoming, and part of Montana. The map shows this area as unmarked Terra Incognita, with only the SLC metro area influenced by SLC. The authors show Spokane connecting southward into Oregon. Nope, Spokane connects eastward into part of Montana and northward into part of BC.
Labels: skill-estate
¶ 3:34 AM
