Urban Research and Complexity

Abstract

During the last two decades, a number of interesting innovations have appeared in the field of urban research. New paradigms such as the dynamics of open systems, self-organisation, synergetics, chaos and evolution theory, have been recognised as conveying fruitful analogies for urban theory. New types of modelling, such as sets of non-linear differential equations for spatial systems, cellular automata, multi-agents models, fractal growth, neural networks and evolutionary models have been investigated. By reviewing the orientations of contemporary urban research, it is possible to recognize among these new urban models, several types of strategies which are used for dealing with the complexity of urban systems.