Mapping Central and Marginal Areas - Advantages and Limitations

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  • The method is suitable in areas, where detatailed spatial information is barely available and access to topograpic maps is sufficient for using the methodology;
  • Spatial awareness about an area can be increased;
  • Development potentials can be identified;
  • Development deficits can be addressed in a demand oriented way;
  • The model can be applied within different contexts, depending on spatial data on the infrastucture available (such as social infrastructure, agricultural infrastructure etc.);
  • A higher transparency in planning and decision making can be achieved, this is important, where the public is involved in the planning processes and therefore contributes to “good governance”;
  • Centrality is one component which reflects the value of land, therefore it can be used for land value assessments;
  • A Global Positioning System (GPS) can be used to collect additional spatial information;
  • By-products (such as maps indicating cost distaces) can be used for other purposes
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  • Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for modelling requires a detailed technical knowledge;
  • The development of a digital elevation model using the topographic map is time consuming;
  • The selection of a infrastructure and its weighing is based on a subjective decision of the planner, therefore resulting maps vary accordingly;
  • The GIS-model can not be applied, where topographic maps are not available or in almost flat areas;