Basic territorial accessibility measures. Approaches, evolution and usefulness

Abstract

Assessing the relationships between transport infrastructure and the territory is a complex task due to the multiple factors involved in it, being the quantification of accessibility one of the basic tools for its analysis. Thus, given the special interest in planning and regional planning, at all scales, the contributions in this field are numerous and have been approached from different points of view, enriching both conceptual and practical discourse. This work of reflection therefore assesses the role of the measure of accessibility in territorial studies by reviewing and sharing the main proposed conceptual approaches to accessibility from a geographical perspective. It also compares some of the basic measures and indicators that have been formulated for its assessment. To conclude, the usefulness of territorial accessibility measures must be highlighted for territorial studies at different scales and as a decision-making support tool for territorial planning.