Abstract:

Spatial arrangement of human activity by territorial planning is a highly relevant problem for many countries throughout the world. A problem of an optimal population settlement distribution network is always drastically crucial for Ukraine due to a number of reasons, some of which have been taken into account upon the administrative and territorial reform provided.  The determination of structural and dynamic characteristics of the population settlement network gets more and more topicality in the mentioned aspect. Our paper focuses on methodical and procedural issues of the agglomeration spatial structure regional research by the modeling of Integral Function of Impact (IFI). This approach is grounded on the concept of some “area of impact” for any socio-economic geographic feature. Modelling builds the series of IFI-surfaces with spatial distribution of population settlement by the IFI-function itself, by the population settlement potential, and by the averagely weighted with the IFI population settlement potential. These surfaces represent various sides of interactions according to a parameter selected. The IFI-surfaces built are a user-friendly tool for the definition of initial agglomerations and promising region growing points, which stimulated development would contribute to an optimal usage of a territorial potential, while increasing economic, human, and investment potential too. The paper demonstrates the results of the IFI-approach application within a case study of Kharkiv region (Ukraine). The outlined approach of the agglomeration spatial structure regional research can be in demand for evidence-based territorial planning and managing, for effective policy of regional development, etc.