Explorations in Urban and Regional Dynamics

Joel Dearden, Alan Wilson

"The task of modelling the evolution of cities--the dynamics--is one of the major challenges of the social sciences. This book presents mathematical and computer models of urban and regional dynamics and shows how advances in computer visualisation provide new insights. Models of nonlinear systems in general have three characteristics: multiple equilibria, 'path dependence' over time and phase transitions--that is abrupt change at critical parameter values. These phenomena all exhibit themselves in reality and it is an ongoing task to match model-based analysis with real phenomena. There are three key features of cities and regions to be represented in models: activities at a location--residence, health, education, work and shopping; flows between locations--spatial interaction; and the structures that carry these activities--uildings, transport and communications networks. Spatial...