Which concept is closely related to the study of spatial relationships?

Cartography is the study and practice of making maps, which inherently involves understanding and representing spatial relationships. The core of cartography revolves around showcasing how various geographical elements are arranged, interact, and relate to one another across a given area. By visualizing spatial elements through maps, cartographers can highlight patterns, distributions, and connections among physical features, human activities, and social phenomena. This depiction of spatial relationships is crucial for understanding geographic concepts and making informed decisions about land use, transportation, and resource management.

While cultural anthropology, ecology, and urban sociology each address components of human behavior and environmental interaction, they do not primarily focus on mapping or the visualization of spatial relationships as cartography does.