Geografie 2023, 128, 49-74
Metropolitan polynodal cores as the basis of the new regional organization of Czechia
, Marek Komárek1, Jan Šimbera2
1Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Prague, Czechia
2Nano Energies, Prague, Czechia
Received May 2022
Accepted November 2022
Theoretical research on geographical organization is, in Czechia, mainly associated with Martin Hampl (1940−2022). This paper refers to his extraordinary work. In this article, integrated systems of centers are first defined by two methods: by applying M. Hampl’s method and by using the new criterion of reciprocal mobility. Subsequently, both delimitations are compared, and a typology of these systems is made. Next, the commuting microregions of the integrated systems of centers are created on the basis of commuting patterns from municipalities. The regionalization performed is then a tool to verify the concordance of the regional organization determined by the polynodal cores and given by the Hampl’s mononodal microregional centers. We assume that in reality a more valid regional system will have greater regional integrity of the defined regions and its hierarchization will be more consistent with the theoretical assumptions of the rank size rule. We view the resulting findings both as a stimulus for discussing the methodology for delineating integrated system of centers and as a basis for comparing the expected results of the current national census of 2021.
Keywords
integrated system of centers, metropolitan area, sociogeographic regionalization, regional integrity, regional hierarchy, Czechia.
Funding
This article results from the project: “New Mobility – High-Speed Transport Systems and Transport-Related Human Behaviour”; Reg. No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_026/0008430, cofinanced by the Operational Programme Research, Development and Education and Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.
