UMA CONTRIBUIÇÃO METODOLÓGICA PARA A ANÁLISE DA HIERARQUIA URBANA

Resumen

The ranking of towns according to the central place theory is an important step in the study of an urban system. Several methods, most of them subjective, have been established with this purpose. The authors present the complex Palomaki technique (1964), the aim of which is to try to rank more objectively the towns in a detailed quantitative way. The statistical technique proposed by Marshall (1969) modified by Rondinelli (1979) is presented as an alternative and a comparison of the two techniques is made in the same area, the Feira de Santana region, in the State of Bahia. The techniques are presented step by step and the ranking of towns is established for the commercial activities, administrative functions and a set of several urban services. The ranking is also made for all these functions globally. In conclusion, the results obtained by both techniques present a small diversity, particularly in the commercial functions. The authors demonstrate that the Marshall/Rondinelli technique is much simpler and demands less calculation and time.