1.3 Relationship between locations in a neighbourhood

Question 1

What are regions?

Answer 1

• Areas with similar physical and/or human characteristics
• Spheres of influence of services, events and objects on other locations in the area

Question 2

Areas with similar physical and/or human characteristics

Answer 2

• varies in size
• classifies according to
  1. Environmental characteristics (nature/ built-up areas)
  2. Human characteristics (commercial or residential)
  3. Geographical location (east or west)

Question 3

Spheres of influence of services, events and objects on other locations in the area

Answer 3

• a region’s boundaries are where the effect of the services, events or objects are largely absent
• For example, the Tampines Town Council provides services to the region bounded by Tampines Expressway, Pan-Island Expressway, Tampines Avenue 1 and Avenue 10. Town Councils are responsible for the common areas in public housing and commercial property within the town and they carry out a variety of works for the benefit of residents like grass cutting, lift servicing and washing of common areas.

Question 4

Spacial patterns

Answer 4

1. A non-random arrangement of services, objects, and events in an area
2. Recognisable shapes, geometry, clusters and repeated occurrences

• Services, events and objects in our neighbourhood are often non-randomly arranged.
• There is often a reason why particular services, events and objects are located in particular spaces.
• Recognising spatial patterns is useful as it helps us understand the world around us.
• Spatial patterns can be easily identified on maps where services, events and objects are represented by points, lines or polygons.

Spatial patterns may appear as:
- Recognisable shapes and geometry such as circles and lines on a map
- clusters or concentrations on a map
- repeated occurrences at regular intervals on a map

Question 5

Spatial association

Answer 5

• Refer to the tendency of a pair of services, events and objects to be located near each other
  Example:
• Lifts and stairways are often located next to each other.
• They suggest connections between services, events or objects.
• Understanding spatial associations in our neighbourhood enhances our everyday living.