What Is The Axial Theory Of Urban Development?
The axial theory of development recognizes the importance of transportation routes as drivers of urban economic development. Radiating outward from a city center, the theory of axial development states that urban growth will occur around transportation routes such as roads and rivers that emanate from the central business district.
Axial Theory vs. Sector Theory
Where sector theory states that development occurs as areas of common land use shaped as pie wedges that radiate outward from the city center, axial theory states the development will cluster around transportation routes that radiate out from the core. It is the transportation route that serves as the axis around which real estate and economic development will occur. Although transportation routes also drive development in sector theory, each sector in sector theory has a distinct land use.
Axial Theory vs. Star Theory
Instead of radiating outward, transportation routes may crisscross a city in some areas. As urban development occurs along these transportation routes, real estate development starts to form a star shaped pattern. This pattern was the basis for forming the star theory of urban development.