Catchment Area

A Catchment Area is the geographic region that is served by or draws upon a particular facility, service, or institution. Originally used in hydrology to describe watershed boundaries, the term has been adopted in business and public service contexts to define service areas and market boundaries.

Catchment areas are determined by factors such as accessibility, travel time, physical barriers, and competing facilities. They are crucial for planning public services, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and commercial establishments, helping organizations understand their service reach and optimize resource allocation.

Practical Applications

• Hospital and healthcare facility planning for optimal patient access
• School district boundary definition and enrollment planning
• Public transportation route planning and service coverage
• Emergency services deployment and response time optimization
• Retail market analysis and customer base estimation

Related Terms

• Service Area
• Trade Area
• Accessibility Analysis
• Network Analysis
• Spatial Coverage