Pierre Frankhauser

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.