Multi-dimensional Urban Network Percolation

TL;DR

This paper extends urban network percolation to multiple dimensions, integrating urban form and functions, to analyze sustainable development patterns in European cities.

Contribution

It introduces a multi-dimensional percolation method that incorporates both spatial distribution and transportation network properties for urban analysis.

Findings

Reconstructed endogenous urban regions in Europe.

Demonstrated optimization patterns for economic and environmental sustainability.

Provided a customizable framework for sustainable urban policy design.

Abstract

Network percolation has recently been proposed as a method to characterize the global structure of an urban system form the bottom-up. This paper proposes to extend urban network percolation in a multi-dimensional way, to take into account both urban form (spatial distribution of population) and urban functions (here as properties of transportation networks). The method is applied to the European urban system to reconstruct endogenous urban regions. The variable parametrization allows to consider patterns of optimization for two stylized contradictory sustainability indicators (economic performance and greenhouse gases emissions). This suggests a customizable spatial design of policies to develop sustainable territories.