TERNARY DIAGRAM

Madhusudan Pramanick
Assistant professor,
Post Graduate Dept. of Geography,
Prabhu Jagatbandhu College.
 A ternary was diagram found the most suitable device for
classification of large number of Indian towns in 1961 Census.

Asok Mitra for the first time used the ternary diagram for
functional classification of towns in 1961 Census. His method of
classification is based on the concept of dominant functions of a city.

Ternary diagram is a triangle showing the influences of three

variables. The diagram consists of an equilateral triangle, the sides of
which form three scales graduated from 0 to 100 percent, so that each
apex forms zero on two scale and 100 percent on the third.

It can be used whenever information concerning three variables

can be converted into percentage totaling 100. Any such set of three
percentage can be represented by a point on the diagram, the position
of which within the triangle reflects the relatives dominance of each
component.
 Mitra also divide the triangle into six sub triangles, representing
different combinations. Theses sub triangles were further divided into four
parts by three circles with centre at the middle of the triangle ( representing
33.3 % of each group) and radius equal to 6-2/3, 11-2/3 and 16-2/3.

The points within the first circle was supposed to be representing highly
balanced composition or functions.

The points of any sub triangles within the second circle were classified as
showing the first ranking function moderately balanced and remaining two
functions as moderate.

The points of any sub triangles within the third circle were , however,
classified as showing the first ranking function as moderately accentuated
and remaining two functions as low.

Finally the points of any sub-triangle outside the third circle the first
ranking function highly accentuated and the remaining two functions as
low.
 For this purpose the workers involved in seven non-agricultural
economic functions according to census categories were grouped into three
broader groups as given below :
 Group A : Industry, which includes Mining and Quarrying , Household
industry and industrial workers in other non-household (other than)
industries;
 Group B : Trade and transport involving workers in Trade and Commerce,
Transport and Storage etc.;
 Group c : Service holders.
At first percentage of different groups of workers is calculated. These
per cent values are then plotted on a ternary diagram divided into six triangles.
This ternary diagram is an equilateral triangle showing 0 to 100% values at
10% interval of three computed groups A, B, and C. this ternary diagram is
divided into six sub-triangles, each indicating relative dominance of the three
groups of functions.
 DATA FOR TERNARY DIAGRAM, 1991
LIVESTOCK

TRADE & COMMERCE

,FORESTRY,FIS MANUFACTU MANUFACTURING
Sl. NO

OTHER SURVICES
CONSTRUCTIONS
AGRICULTURAL
CULTIVATORS
HING, RING PROCESSING

QUARRYING
LABOURERS
Municipality
TRANSPOR

MINING &
HUNTING PROCESSING SERVICING &

/towns
T STORAGE
&PLNTATIONS SERVICING & REPAIRS IN OTHER
& COMMUN
ORCHARDS & REPAIRS IN THAN
ICATIONS
ALLIED HOUSEHOLD HOUSEHOLD
ACTIVITIES INDUSTRY INDUSTRY

1 HALISAHAR 97 276 471 13 498 19739 1208 5001 2014 4546

2 KANCHRAPARA 65 306 486 5 379 12429 952 5256 2211 4623
3 NAIHATI 43 295 362 15 440 15650 117 382 144 393
4 BHATPARA 292 507 329 25 259 65032 1576 11495 3805 8521
NORTH
5 BARRACKPUR 23 195 440 128 167 10222 1734 5066 2166 6893
6 BARRACKPUR 41 95 602 48 663 12321 1590 8595 3148 12513
7 TITAGARH 13 7 150 2 92 24112 832 4410 1447 2941
8 KHARDAHA 172 531 311 56 175 8005 881 5257 1896 5638
9 PANIHATI 32 232 437 134 804 28674 2785 19686 7152 15885
10 KAMARHATI 19 230 863 49 476 36803 2239 14939 6469 13966
11 BARANAGAR 30 39 366 89 595 26706 2440 16478 6852 15838
SOUTH DUM
12 DUM 13 19 1294 134 471 17343 2309 20842 8185 18658
NORTH DUM
13 DUM 230 1106 242 88 725 11503 1394 10277 4550 9200
14 DUM DUM 40 43 18 37 3743 527 2325 18884 3701

15 BARASAT 310 1165 348 28 701 6480 1622 8473 3732 7460
16 BIDHAN NAGAR 3 16 349 131 162 5590 2600 8351 3050 15578
 MANUFACTURI

OTHER SURVICES
CONSTRUCTIONS
Municipality /towns

Total of Group-A

Total of Group-C
Total of Group-B
MANUF- NG

QUARRYING

COMMERCE
TRANSPOR

MINING &

TRADE &
ACTURING PROCESSING
T STORAGE
Sl. NO

PROCESSING SERVICING &

&
SERVICING & REPAIRS IN
COMMUN
REPAIRS IN OTHER THAN
HOUSEHOLD HOUSEHOLD
INDUSTRY INDUSTRY ICATIONS
1 HALISAHAR 13 498 19739 20250 1208 5001 6209 2014 4546 6560
KANCHRAPAR 12813 6834
2 A 5 379 12429 952 5256 6208 2211 4623
3 NAIHATI 15 440 15650 16105 117 382 499 144 393 537
4 BHATPARA 25 259 65032 65316 1576 11495 13071 3805 8521 12326
NORTH 10517 9059
5 BARRACKPUR 128 167 10222 1734 5066 6800 2166 6893
6 BARRACKPUR 48 663 12321 13032 1590 8595 10185 3148 12513 15661
7 TITAGARH 2 92 24112 24206 832 4410 5242 1447 2941 4388
8 KHARDAHA 56 175 8005 8236 881 5257 6138 1896 5638 7534
9 PANIHATI 134 804 28674 29612 2785 19686 22471 7152 15885 23037
10 KAMARHATI 49 476 36803 37328 2239 14939 17178 6469 13966 20435
11 BARANAGAR 89 595 26706 27390 2440 16478 18918 6852 15838 22690
SOUTH DUM 18658
12 DUM 134 471 17343 2309 20842 23151 8185 18658
NORTH DUM 12316 13750
13 DUM 88 725 11503 1394 10277 11671 4550 9200
14 DUM DUM 18 37 3743 3798 527 2325 2852 18884 3701 22585
15 BARASAT 28 701 6480 7209 1622 8473 10095 3732 7460 11192
BIDHAN 3 5755 18628
16 NAGAR 162 5590 2600 8351 10951 3050 15578
 Transport (Group-
Total of Group-B

Total of Group-B
Total of Group-A

% of Trade and
% of Industry

% of Services
Municipality

(Group-C)
(Group-A)
/towns
Sl. NO

Total

B)
1 HALISAHAR 20250 6209 6560 33019 61.32833 19.87 19.867

2 KANCHRAPARA 12813 6208 6834 25855 49.55715 26.43 26.432

3 NAIHATI 16105 499 537 17141 93.95601 3.133 3.1328
4 BHATPARA 65316 13017 12326 90659 72.0458 13.6 13.596
NORTH
5 BARRACKPUR 10517 6800 9059 26376 39.87337 34.35 34.346
6 BARRACKPUR 13032 10185 15661 38878 33.52024 40.28 40.282
7 TITAGARH 24206 5242 4388 33836 71.53919 12.97 12.968
8 KHARDAHA 8236 6138 7534 21908 37.59357 34.39 34.389
9 PANIHATI 29612 22471 23037 75120 39.4196 30.67 30.667
10 KAMARHATI 37328 17178 20435 74941 49.80985 27.27 27.268
11 BARANAGAR 27390 18918 22690 68998 39.6968 32.89 32.885

12 SOUTH DUM DUM 17948 23151 18658 59757 30.03497 31.22 31.223

13 NORTH DUM DUM 12316 11671 13750 37737 32.6364 36.44 36.436
14 DUM DUM 3798 2852 22585 29235 12.99128 77.25 77.253
15 BARASAT 7209 10095 11192 28496 25.29829 39.28 39.276

16 BIDHAN NAGAR 5755 10951 18628 35334 16.28743 52.72 52.72

 Interpretation
Sl. No. Name of Predominant functions Sub-triangle Secondary functions
Town location

1. Bongaon Trade & Transport town v Highly accelerated trade, medium

industry, low service
2. Habra Trade & transport town VI Moderately accelerated trade,
medium service, low industry
3. Sadpur Trade & Transport town V Moderately accelerated trade,
medium service, low industry
4. Ashokenagar Trade & Transport town V Highly accelerated trade, Medium
kalyangarh industry, low service
5. Barasat Trade & Transport town V Moderately accelerated trade,
Medium industry, Low service
6. Halisahar Industrial town IV Highly accelerated trade, medium
trade, Low service
7. Bhatpara Industrial town III Highly accelerated industry,
medium trade, Low service
8. Panpur Industrial town IV Highly accelerated Industry,
Medium trade, Low service
9. Basirhat Trade and Transport town V Moderately accelerated trade,
Medium industry, Low service
10. Kanchrapra Industrial town IV Highly accelerated trade, Medium
trade, Low service.
THANK YOU
Mr. Ashoke Mitra first used a ternary diagram in 1961 census to classify the functions
of a town of city. His motive was to find out the dominant and distinctive functions
related to a particular town. For this purpose the workers involved in seven non-
agricultural economic functions according to census categories were grouped into
three broader groups as given below :
Group A : Industry, which includes Mining and Quarrying , Household industry and
industrial workers in other non-household (other than) industries;
Group B : Trade and transport involving workers in Trade and Commerce, Transport
and Storage etc.;
Group c : Service holders.
At first percentage of different groups of male
workers in total male workers in total male workers minus male cultivators and
agricultural labourers and marginal workers is calculated. These per cent values are
then plotted on a ternary diagram divided into six triangles. This ternary diagram is an
equilateral triangle showing 0 to 100% values at 10% interval of three computed
groups A, B, and C. this ternary diagram is divided into six sub-triangles, each
indicating relative dominance of the three groups of functions.
The sub-triangles are further subdivided into four parts on the basis of three
circles drawn from the centre with three radii at 62/3, 112/3, and 162/3 mm. lengths.
The following data comprises the number of male workers in various
categories of work for 10 towns of west Bengal. Let out which functions predominate
in these towns.