Measuring spatial properties of historic urban networks

Abstract

This research aims to explore the spatial relationships between the physical properties of the historic urban fabric in Old Baghdad, Iraq. The area has undergone various building processes over time, resulting in a complex built environment consisting of different patterns of urban form, including organic, modern, and a hybrid of both. The study focuses on a one square kilometer area, where three key metric measures - reach, betweenness, and closeness - are utilized from a GIS platform to analyze and describe the spatial properties of the built environment. The results indicate a significant spatial relationship between the locations of buildings and the values for the reach, betweenness, and closeness indices. To further understand the built environment's physical properties, future research will incorporate the analysis of other urban systems, such as economic, social, and environmental elements. By examining these factors, researchers can determine their impact on the physical properties of the built environment and how they interact with one another.