Industrial Areas: Location Factors and Landscape Types
Industrial Areas
Criteria for Industrial Locations
Industries are typically situated where supply and production costs are minimized. Several factors influence the location of industrial areas, including:
- Proximity to Raw Materials and Energy Sources: Industries are drawn to areas where resources are readily available, ensuring a consistent supply and reduced transportation expenses.
- Existing Commercial and Transport Infrastructure: Industries require efficient access to raw materials, semi-finished products, and distribution networks for finished goods. Locations near transport hubs and large population centers offer well-connected markets.
- Government Intervention: Governments may encourage industrialization in less developed regions or create re-industrialization zones to address regional disparities or for strategic purposes.
- Business Preferences: Business owners consider potential economic benefits alongside personal preferences (tradition, appeal) when selecting a location.
- Proximity to Other Industries: New industries can leverage existing infrastructure, services, and the presence of similar or complementary businesses.
- Historical Craftsmanship: The earliest factories often emerged in areas with a strong tradition of craftsmanship.
- Workforce Availability: Some industries require large workforces, while others need highly skilled employees.
Industrial Landscapes
Varying location criteria have led to diverse types of industrial areas.
Traditional Industrial Landscapes
- Black Landscapes of the 19th Century: Coalfields were heavily industrialized due to the reliance of metallurgical industries on coal as an energy source.
- Urban Industrial Landscapes: Refineries were established in ports and cities to meet the demand for petroleum. Numerous other industries developed nearby, benefiting from existing markets, workforces, and low transport costs.
- Port Landscapes: Many industries associated with maritime transport are concentrated around major ports.
- Industrial Mountain Landscapes: Mineral deposits, raw materials, and abundant, cheap energy have attracted industries to rural areas.
New Industrial Landscapes
Industries can create problems in cities, such as pollution, noise, space limitations, and high land costs. Consequently, they are increasingly located near transport routes or in purpose-built industrial estates. These estates are often situated on the outskirts of cities and are primarily used by small companies.
Traditional industries are being modernized (redeveloped), and new spaces, such as science and technology parks, are being created due to:
- Improved transport and communications.
- Better workforce mobility.
- Technological advances.
- Government intervention.
- New industrial countries offering incentives to promote industry (tax and customs exemptions, very low labor costs, relaxed environmental regulations, limited trade union presence).