Central Place Theory

Computer Lab – Room 416

1. Open up a new PowerPoint presentation.

2. Define: Market Area (hinterland)RangeServiceThreshold

2. Where is the best location of a service such asa McDonalds?

Central Place Theory

Google Earth

• Go to Google Earth and fly to Seattle.• Once you are there, put the term “McDonalds”

into the locational box.• The restaurants will be identified.• Go to “Edit” and “Copy Image.” • Go to your PPT presentation and paste the image.• Go to “Insert” and “Shapes” to find a hexagon.• Place a hexagon in a Central Place pattern around

each McDonalds location. (you will have to change the hexagon to “No Fill” to make it transparent)

Discussion Questions• Are the market areas the same size?

• Are there concentrations of populations in some of the areas, i.e. are the thresholds the same size? Would concentrations of college students/apartment complexes influence the locations? Would the locations of businesses with large work forces influence the range?

• If the community had a large elderly population would that change the

threshold therefore influencing the range for each restaurant?

• Are there “gaps”? Where would people go if they were not in one of the market areas?

• Where would the next McDonalds be built?

• Do the transportation routes influence where people would stop?

• What other factors might influence where people would stop?