Final answer:
During the early 20th century, scholars at the University of Chicago developed models to understand the functioning of cities and their urban morphologies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of configuration irregularities being defined on a quantitative basis in the field of urban geography can be traced back to the early 20th century when geographers, sociologists, and anthropologists at the University of Chicago developed various models to understand how cities functioned and evolved.