Geography and the Properties of Surfaces. A Computer Program for Mixed Hexagonal Hierarchies.
Abstract
This paper presents an improved computerized model for generating hierarchies of branching in inorganic systems such as rivers and Lichtenberg figures, and organic branching systems such as blood vessels, air ways, bile ducts and Purkinje cells. In addition the model predicts hierarchies of market areas in a central place system. The model generates all possible hierarchies based on the division of an area into successively smaller hexagons with area ratios of 3, 4 and 7. In a departure from the previous form of this model, the computer selects the best geometric progression of the means of the square root of areas (or lengths). Using this model, the computer created many hierarchies, of which eleven seem to be very likely to be found in nature. Seven have been observed, leaving perhaps four more to be discovered. The report contains a background review, a description of the model, the computer program which is flexible and can be modified, the output, and a chapter evaluating the output. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 15, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA013227
Entities
People
- David Barer
- Michael J. Woldenberg
- Rachel F. Thurston
Organizations
- Harvard University