The concept describes a pattern of urban land use where different types of activities and social groups are arranged in wedge-shaped sections radiating outwards from the central business district. These sectors often follow major transportation routes. For example, a city might have a manufacturing district that extends along a river or railway line, while high-income residential areas develop along a particularly scenic or desirable corridor.
This model offers a framework for understanding spatial variations in urban environments, acknowledging that cities are not uniformly organized but exhibit distinct zones shaped by economic and social forces. Its significance lies in providing a simplified representation of urban structure that facilitates analysis of residential patterns, industrial location, and urban growth. Historically, this perspective emerged as an alternative to earlier, more simplistic concentric zone models, seeking to better account for the influence of transportation and other factors on city development.