From buildings to cities: techniques for the multi-scale analysis of urban form and function

Abstract

The built environment is a significant factor in many urban processes, yet direct measures of built form are
\nseldom used in geographical studies. Representation and analysis of urban form and function could provide
\nnew insights and improve the evidence base for research. So far progress has been slow due to limited data
\navailability, computational demands, and a lack of methods to integrate built environment data with
\naggregate geographical analysis. Spatial data and computational improvements are overcoming some of
\nthese problems, but there remains a need for techniques to process and aggregate urban form data. Here we
\ndevelop a Built Environment Model of urban function and dwelling type classifications for Greater
\nLondon, based on detailed topographic and address-based data (sourced from Ordnance Survey
\nMasterMap). The multi-scale approach allows the Built Environment Model to be viewed at fine-scales for
\nlocal planning contexts, and at city-wide scales for aggregate geographical analysis, allowing an improved
\nunderstanding of urban processes. This flexibility is illustrated in the two examples, that of urban function
\nand residential type analysis, where both local-scale urban clustering and city-wide trends in density and
\nagglomeration are shown. While we demonstrate the multi-scale Built Environment Model to be a viable
\napproach, a number of accuracy issues are identified, including the limitations of 2D data, inaccuracies in
\ncommercial function data and problems with temporal attribution. These limitations currently restrict the
\nmore advanced applications of the Built Environment Model.