Applied geography
The Applied Geography is not a sub-discipline of the department of geography , but - as applied science - a results-oriented approach that sets them apart from the theoretical, classificatory and taxonomic geography. Therefore it is primarily assigned to the regional (special) geography .
Tasks and fields of work
The term ties in with the same distinction in the natural sciences: for example, applied physics, applied chemistry or applied botany; This refers to those scientists who want to use the skills and knowledge of their subject outside of the university, that is, who want to apply them “practically”. It is therefore primarily differentiated from university geography and school geography , and is the professional profile of the occupational geography .
Applied geography is about the use of geographical knowledge and skills to solve social spatial problems. An example is criminal geography or spatial planning . Social problems are understood to be tasks that the public sector and the private sector face. Applied geography therefore exists when the purpose of application has to do with the fulfillment of tasks that are not set by the geographers themselves, but are set by geography. In solving these tasks, the boundaries between university and practice are constantly being crossed. In principle, this task is never completed, but rather an ongoing task that requires constant feedback from concepts, measures and monitoring of results.
Applied geography is responsible for:
- Spatial planning and development
- Supply and disposal
- Environmental advice and eco-management
- Technogeography and Risk Research
- Traffic and mobility research
- Tourism and leisure
- Statistics and information
Areas of activity for applied geographers can be found:
- in the public service ( spatial planning )
- in the semi-public sector: advocacy groups , engineering consultants for geography, experts
- in business, for example in technical offices , in publishing and practical cartography , business development and market research , development cooperation and refugee affairs , economic and political advice
history
The series of publications on Applied Geography contributed to the establishment of the term in German-speaking countries at the beginning of the 20th century . Booklets for the dissemination of geographical knowledge in its relation to cultural and economic life . From 1902 to 1921 a total of 51 volumes were published by changing publishers (Gebauer-Schwetschke, Halle an der Saale; Keller, Frankfurt am Main and Seidel, Vienna).
Professional associations / interest groups
- German Association for Applied Geography
- Austrian Association for Applied Geography (ÖVAG - organizationally part of the Austrian Geographical Society ÖGG)
- Swiss Society for Applied Geography
literature
- Götz H.-G. von Rohr: Applied Geography. 2nd Edition. (= The geographical seminar ). Westermann, Braunschweig 1994.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Gerhard L. Fasching: Applied geography in Austria, professional and personal requirement profile for professional geographers. In: Profession and Practice. Innsbruck annual report 1999/00 ( pdf , uibk.ac.at).
- ^ Austrian Association for Applied Geography , oevag.net
- ↑ Swiss Society for Applied Geography , swissgeography.ch/sgag