The Local scale Is a concept that has several applications in different sciences. In general, it can be defined as a level associated with a very specific, generally geographic, or at least physically delimitable area. This area is characterized by being part of a whole that contains it and is much wider.
If we look at our planet from space, we can admire a blue globe and think that it is a homogeneous whole, a unit whose properties are similar in each of its parts.
However we know that this is not what happens in reality. Our planet is composed of many elements that interact with each other, and what happens in each of its parts, to a greater or lesser extent, affect the rest.
In this way, we can analyze the causes and consequences of phenomena occurring on the earth, either by observing what happens on the planet in general, or also what happens in a particular region.
Concepts to explain the social scale
When we are concerned with describing phenomena taking place in the world, for example, the rising temperature of our planet, we say that we are dealing with a topic on a larger scale or world scale. We are describing the consequences of a situation that is generally experienced in every part of the globe.
If, on the other hand, we focus on a problem of a community, for example, the lack of sewage system of a sector of the population of a city, we are reducing the margin of the description of the problem raised, we circumscribe it locally to a sector Of a population, and we are said to be dealing with a problem at the local level.
Similarly, if we have a map, we can see if the scale to which it is drawn is global or local. Generally a map of the world is made on a world scale and a map of a street or sector of the city is on a local scale.
The latter has more details such as street name, building, direction of movement, geographical accident etc. While a world map has a much smaller detail, and highlights such as borders, names of major cities, coastal modeling, mountain reliefs etc.
Local scale in geography
The geography Is defined as the study of the physical characteristics of the terrestrial surface and atmosphere and how they are affected by human activities.
When we study geography on a local scale, we get soaked in concepts such as the topography of a locality, the environmental patterns of that place, the behavior of a river, the urban development of the place, etc.
In the lower part we can see the scale of the locality of San Cristóbal de la Barranca.
However, in studying these factors, we realize that they are closely related and are a consequence of global factors, because as previously said, everything is related.
In this sense, local topography depends on the plate tectonic movements, the climate of a place is a consequence of the global climate, the course of the river also related to global climatic factors, urban or demographic development is a consequence of national and international activities, etc.
If we observe a Map , We can detail the types of scale it has. Usually two scales are used, a graph that places a line whose length represents an amount in meters, kilometers or other unit of distance, equivalent to the actual distance in the given map. Thus the user can get an idea of the actual length represented on the map.
Another type of scale is the numerical scale. With it only the proportion of the actual site that is represented in the map is recorded, for example, scale 1:50 implies that the drawing is drawn 50 times smaller than the real one.
Local Health Scale
When health problems are placed on the table, it is necessary to delimit the scope of both the subject to study and the impact that some diseases can have on the human population. Geographic factors, natural barriers, drafts, etc. play an important role.
If we evaluate the incidence of a disease, then we study from different approaches: at the local level, we study the impact and effects on a population, the care of the affected, the supply of medicines, etc.
Distribution of the affected areas in Ciudad Juárez by dengue (2005).
If it is a virus, then the migratory movements of both human beings and animal species that can propagate it play an important role.
Geographic factors, as well as geopolitical divisions (municipalities, states, countries) are taken into account.
Local Scale in Politics
State policies that take into consideration the countries in the execution of their development plans, come hand in hand with the scales to which they are carried out.
Regardless of the boundaries or geographical features of a region, development plans focus on the local or regional, which impacts on a small area, nationally and internationally with relations between neighboring countries or surrounding countries.
In this context, local authorities (councilors, mayors, governors) are guarantors of the execution of the development plans of their areas, which are given by senior national officials who have previously carried out the national development plan.
Depending on the degree of autonomy of the region, these plans can be executed and obtain resources from the same region or can be derived from a national budget and be subject to a macro development plan.
It is possible to say that each development plan is influenced by the needs and characteristics, not only of the population and of the affected area, but of the surrounding areas, because as in other meanings of the concept of locality, Which interact in many ways with their environment.
Similarly, when taking into account the development plans of a region, the timeframes for the region are taken into account.
Development plans are established for a short, medium and long term, and take into account the possible changes resulting from the political alternation of the leadership, the duration and origin of the economic resources to carry them out, and other factors of interest.
References
- Differences in cartographic representation at the local, national and global scales. Retrieved from: beatrizgeografia.blogspot.com.
- Global, Local & Regional Geography. Retrieved from: study.com.
- The local, national and global scales. Retrieved from: sites.google.com.
- Pillet, F. (2008). The scales of space: from the global to the local.Scripta Nova. Electronic Journal of Geography and Social Sciences. Barcelona, University of Barcelona.
- The 'Local' and the 'Global' - Scale. Retrieved from: core.human.cornell.edu.