Introduction to urban science : evidence and theory of cities as complex systems

Auteur(s) :

Bettencourt, Luís M. A.

Résumé

This is a book about urban scaling theory, a highly analytical and mathematical approach to modeling the state of cities. Using this approach, cities are defined as complex systems, "independent socioeconomic and spatial (infrastructural) networks that coevolve to support each other" (p. 56), subject to growth and development patterns that are assumed to follow general laws. Drawing on these ideas, Bettencourt (Univ. of Chicago) has written a comprehensive, deeply considered assessment of urban development and the many theories that attempt to explain it. Among other topics, he considers urbanization, economic productivity and growth, neighborhood clustering, urban diversity, land rents, migration, and the origin of human settlements. Exploiting large data sets to test his hypotheses, Bettencourt finds that these urban qualities are responsive to the scale of cities; for example, productivity and neighborhood segregation increase with increasing city size. Of utmost importance are both urban connectivity and information, "the driver of temporal change" (p. 373). Replete with complex diagrams, statistical tables, and differential equations, this is a challenging work. For those fascinated by cities who possess the requisite mathematical skills and are in search of what cities have in common, Introduction to Urban Science is a resource without peer.