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Urban growth: modelling street network growth in Manhattan (1642–2008) and Barcelona (1260–2008)

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posted on 2023-06-10, 04:35 authored by Kinda Al SayedKinda Al Sayed, Sean Hanna, Alan Penn
In this paper, we argue for the case that cities are self-organised complex systems by presenting evidence on positive and reinforcing feedback mechanisms and robust global trends that characterise historical growth patterns. In two case studies; Manhattan and Barcelona, historical stages of urban growth were mapped and analysed. The analyses revealed regularities that may help define the local and global processes that characterise urban growth marked by alternating periods of expansion and pruning in street networks. The global trend marked by a lognormal distribution of segmental integration (closeness) in street networks was consistently restored following planning interventions. The overall street network growth trend appeared to fit an exponential or power law distribution, along with a linear change in fractal dimension. Underlying these global trends, we found evidence for local positive and reinforcing feedback mechanisms; explained by preferential attachment to well-connected street structures, and pruning of weakly integrated local street structures. The findings are likely to improve our understanding of urban growth.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Frontiers in Built Environment

ISSN

2297-3362

Publisher

Frontiers Media SA

Volume

8

Page range

1-14

Department affiliated with

  • Informatics Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2022-09-05

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2022-09-05

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2022-09-02

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