What is the best shape of a city

TL;DR

This study investigates how different urban shapes influence transportation energy use by modeling various city structures and profiles, revealing that compact, centrally dense cities reduce overall travel distances.

Contribution

It introduces a parametric model and interactive tool to analyze the impact of diverse urban forms on travel distances and energy consumption.

Findings

Compact cities minimize total travel distance.

Different urban profiles significantly affect commuting patterns.

The model provides a quantitative basis for urban planning decisions.

Abstract

Urban form plays a crucial role in shaping transportation patterns, accessibility, energy consumption, and more. Our study examines the relationship between urban form and transportation energy use by developing a parametric model that simulates city structures and their impact on travel distances. We explore various urban morphologies, including sprawling, elongated, compact, and vertically concentrated cities, and consider five urban profiles: "needle," "pyramid," "pancake," "bowl," and "ring." We designed an interactive visualisation and calculator that enables the analysis of these effects, providing insights into the impact of various urban configurations. Our model quantifies the average commuting distances associated with these forms, demonstrating that compact and centrally dense cities minimise the total travel distance in cities.