Analyzing the Spatial Distribution of Jordanian Cities Using GIS

Abstract

The phenomenon of urbanization in Jordan affected the structure of urban system of Jordan significantly, especially spatial distribution of cities. The study tried to answer questions related to the Jordanian city distribution; nature of size distribution; spatial distribution of cities and kind of factors affecting it. The study adapted the inductive analytical based on technique and quantitative methods. The study used several statistical methods and quantitative application and technology to identify the characteristics of the Jordanian urban system, such as methods of central tendency; measures of dispersion; Gini coefficient. The study used Geographic Information Systems (GIS); to build nucleus of a spatial database for the urban system in Jordan, using spatial and descriptive data from various documented sources. The program ArcInfo was used to analyze the spatial and metadata. The study used point analysis for phenomena such as: center, median, standard distance and standard directional ellipse distance, beside neighborhood index, chi Square and Robinson equation. The most important findings of the study and recommendations were that: Jordanian cities are not randomly distributed but rather have concentrated form in specific areas.The study also show that there is a discrepancy between cities of Jordan in terms of growth rates and patterns of their locations and functions. Also the study specify factors influencing city distribution in Jordan, such as environmental factors: aspects of the surface, soil, temperature, rainfall and distribution of resources.