Introduction The roots and diffusion of time-geography

Abstract

Time-geography emanates from the scientific works of the Swedish human geographer Torsten Hagerstrand and his research group. Subsequently, many researchers in the international scientific community have furthered the development. The time-geographic approach is Hagerstrand's effort to provide intellectual and conceptual tools to capture describe and analyze the evasive phenomena of ongoing change processes in society and nature. The time-geographic approach is based on assumptions that pave the way for its specific concepts. Time-geography also includes a notation system, which is a tool that helps clarify time-space concepts, relations and processes that otherwise, if observed at all, just might seem to be non-related even though entangled. The visualizations are useful when investigating contexts wherein many different kinds of phenomena must be coordinated and find room to meet in the time-space. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.