Gravity and Spatial Interaction Models

Book excerpt: Haynes and Fotheringham provide a comprehensive introduction to the four basic forms of gravity models. Gravity and spatial interaction -- extensively applied in forecasting -- has provided a major contribution to social science literature. The authors trace the different applications of the gravity model to market area analysis including: determining the boundaries of market areas, determining the demand for goods or services, and examining problems of operating the retail model. Six fully-developed, real-life examples of the use of these models are presented: planning a new service, defining retail shopping boundaries, forecasting migration and voting patterns, examining university enrollment by area, determining the optimal size of a shopping complex, and locating a facility to maximize custom. The discussion is kept at an elementary mathematical level and is aimed primarily at those unacquainted with the finer workings of gravity and spatial interaction models.