Cécile Tannier

Defining and characterizing urban boundaries: a fractal analysis of theoretical cities and Belgian cities

In this paper we extract the morphological boundaries of urban agglomerations and characterize boundary shapes using eight fractal and nonfractal spatial indexes. Analyses were first performed on six archetypal theoretical cities, and then on Belgiums 18 largest towns. The results show that: (1) the relationship between the shape of the urban boundary (fractal dimension, proportion of buildings close to the urban boundary) is not straightforward; (2) each city is a unique combination of the morphological characteristics considered here; (3) due to their different morphological characteristics, the planning potential of Flemish and Walloon cities seems to be very different.

An integrated multifractal modelling to urban and regional planning

In this paper, we propose a conceptual framework for the design of multifractal urban or regional development plans that adhere to five planning principles: hierarchical polycentric urban development; transit-oriented development; locally dense residential development; penetration of green areas into built-up areas across several nested scales; preservation of interconnected networks of natural and green areas having various sizes. This conceptual planning framework is based on multifractal spatial modelling, which is intrinsically multiscalar. The GIS-based software application Fractalopolis (current version 1.0) is used to apply this conceptual framework to real-world case studies. Fractalopolis helps to define where to create new housing units and new facilities in accordance with the planning principles set out above. We use Fractalopolis to create a multifractal development plan for a medium-sized French metropolitan area, namely Besancon, for the year 2026. This plan allows a realistic “soft” transformation the Besancon metropolitan area in keeping with the five planning principles set out above and makes the region more multifractal.

Spatial Decision-Making: Between Individual Choices and Collective References

Our individual spatial behaviours are all guided by collective references, whether for a choice of routes (by road, on foot, etc.), places frequented (choice among various shopping centres, etc.), or residential choices (choice of moving to another part of town or another locality). The ideas conveyed by our entourage (family, friends) or by some wider social group (e.g. via national surveys or the media) influence us. However, our individual spatial behaviours are not guided by collective references alone; individual determinants also come into play such as the means of transport we have for our daily commutes, the number of children in our household, or personal past experience (especially during our childhood).

Determinism, Probability, and Imprecision in Decision-Making

This chapter looks into the decision to move house and the way in which the decision can be formalized by integrating the reflections from the previous chapters. The fact is that the decision-making process is seldom considered in the context of mathematical modelling of residential mobility. The modelling approaches set out in chapter 9 rest essentially on the concept of preferences and investigate the way in which individuals set about classifying criteria or alternatives with respect to residential choice.

Preferences, Utility, Choice, and Attractiveness

The purpose of this chapter is to specify what is meant by preferences, utility, choice, and attractiveness in the context of daily and residential mobility. These notions will be addressed from the angles of economics, geography, and psychology. We are interested in the process of choice leading to a decision and action with spatial consequences, primarily in terms of residential mobility even if factors pertaining to local daily mobility such as modal choice and route choice are evoked.

Trois modèles pour mieux comprendre la localisation des commerces de détail en milieu urbain

La dynamique des localisations commerciales de detail en milieu urbain est etudiee a travers la realisation successive de trois modeles. Chacun d’eux correspond a une etape d’une demarche, dont la presentation est au cœur de cet article. Le premier modele decrit les processus generaux a l’origine de la dynamique des localisations commerciales en milieu urbain. Le deuxieme modele consiste en l’identification de regles d’implantation des etablissements commerciaux. Il permet de definir la structure du troisieme modele. Formellement le plus abouti, de par sa nature mathematique, tandis que les deux premiers sont conceptuels et graphiques, ce dernier modele permet la simulation.