Final answer:
William Bunge is credited with pioneering system analysis in geography, an approach that ties with the analytical advancements during the quantitative revolution in the discipline.
Step-by-step explanation:
System analysis, the analytical technique used by modern geographers, was developed by many individuals over time, but the specific names given in the options have their own distinct contributions to geography and associated fields. However, it was William Bunge who is often credited with pioneering the method of system analysis in geography. Bunge focused on spatial patterns and processes, using mathematical and analytical techniques to understand and explain geographic systems.
Geography as a discipline encompasses physical geography and human geography, using a spatial perspective to study and compare different places. Both areas are integral to understanding the world and analyzing patterns such as those identified by Walter Christaller in his Central Place Theory, as well as models like that of Johann Heinrich von Thünen, which anticipates land use based on transportation costs and market location in relation to agricultural production.
The use of scientific methodologies and tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) emerged during the quantitative revolution, as geographers sought to adopt a nomothetic approach to discover generalizable patterns or laws that govern society. This shift towards rigorous scientific analysis parallels the development of system analysis in geography, illustrating the evolution of the field towards more complex and high-tech research approaches.