AQA · A-Level · Geography
Course version: 7037 · Version from Sept 2018
Maps showing movement – flow lines, desire lines and trip lines.
Full specification wording
Cartographic skills: Maps showing movement – flow lines, desire lines and trip lines.
Maps showing movement visualise the spatial dynamics of people, goods, or information.
Checked against the AQA 7037 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 5
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Maps showing movement visualise the spatial dynamics of people, goods, or information. Flow lines depict the exact route taken, with the line width drawn proportional to the volume of movement, such as traffic flow along specific motorways. Desire lines are drawn as straight lines directly connecting an origin to a destination, illustrating the general direction of movement regardless of the actual physical route taken. Trip lines specifically map regular, purposeful journeys, such as commuting from suburbs to a city centre or travel to a retail park. Analysing these maps allows geographers to identify dominant directions of travel, assess the scale of spatial interaction, and evaluate the connectivity between different geographic locations.
What earns the marks
- Distinguish between flow lines showing exact routes and desire lines showing straight-line connections from origins to destinations.
- Interpret the volume of movement by measuring the width of flow or desire lines against the map's scale or key.
- Identify spatial patterns of movement, such as radial commuting patterns shown by trip lines converging on a central hub.
- Evaluate the limitations of movement maps, such as the visual clutter created when many desire lines overlap at a single destination.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing desire lines with flow lines by assuming desire lines show the actual physical route taken.
Put it right: Recognise that desire lines only show the straight-line connection between origin and destination, not the physical path.
Ignoring the width of the lines when interpreting the map.
Put it right: Measure the width of the line and compare it to the key to determine the volume or magnitude of the movement.
Assuming trip lines only represent one-way movement.
Put it right: Check the map key and arrowheads, as trip lines often represent return journeys or two-way spatial interactions.
Exam tips
- When describing patterns of movement, use compass directions and specific place names to detail the origins and destinations.
- Use a ruler in the exam to accurately measure the width of flow lines and convert this to a numerical value using the key.
- If evaluating a desire line map, mention that while it shows spatial interaction clearly, it ignores physical barriers and actual transport networks.
Try the lesson
The start of the Cartographic skills: Maps showing movement – flow lines, desire lines and trip lines. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which type of map line is drawn with a thickness proportional to the volume of movement along a specific route?
Listen
Maps showing movement visualise the spatial dynamics of people, goods, or information. Flow lines depict the exact route taken, with the line width drawn proportional to the volume of movement, such as traffic flow along specific motorways. Desire lines are drawn as straight lines directly connecting an origin to a destination, illustrating the general direction of movement regardless of the actual physical route taken. Trip lines specifically map regular, purposeful journeys, such as commuting from suburbs to a city centre or travel to a retail park. Analysing these maps allows geographers to identify dominant directions of travel, assess the scale of spatial interaction, and evaluate the connectivity between different geographic locations. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Distinguish between flow lines showing exact routes and desire lines showing straight-line connections from origins to destinations. Interpret the volume of movement by measuring the width of flow or desire lines against the map's scale or key. Identify spatial patterns of movement, such as radial commuting patterns shown by trip lines converging on a central hub. Evaluate the limitations of movement maps, such as the visual clutter created when many desire lines overlap at a single destination. A common slip: Confusing desire lines with flow lines by assuming desire lines show the actual physical route taken. Instead, Recognise that desire lines only show the straight-line connection between origin and destination, not the physical path. Exam tip: When describing patterns of movement, use compass directions and specific place names to detail the origins and destinations.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Flow lines
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Desire lines
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Trip lines
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Spatial interaction
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Flow lines
- Lines that depict the exact route taken, with the line width drawn proportional to the volume of movement.
- Desire lines
- Straight lines directly connecting an origin to a destination, illustrating the general direction of movement regardless of the actual physical route taken.
- Trip lines
- Lines that specifically map regular, purposeful journeys, such as commuting from suburbs to a city centre or travel to a retail park.
- Spatial interaction
- The movement of people, goods, or information, whose scale can be assessed by analysing maps showing movement.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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