Case Studies

This chapter attempts to demonstrate the utility of geospatial technology in assessing the characteristics of different aspects of the urban system. The characteristics of these urban events may differ from each other. To understand the working principle of an urban system, occurrence of different urban events need to be investigated. Therefore, this chapter explains two different urban events. That may help readers to understand the variation in different aspects of the urban system. In addition, applicability of geospatial technology is also explained in this chapter. First problem is related to assessment of urban traffic characteristics and the second problem assesses the spatio-temporal variation in landscape pattern of the study area. The first problem is explained using a conceptual framework, and the second problem is explained using quantified demonstration. Readers may find this chapter useful to understand the utility of geospatial technology in understanding different aspects of the urban system.

Characterization of an Urban System

Correct representation of characteristics of different attributes of a city helps in understanding the impact of these attributes on evolution of a city. And the way they are dependent on each other. It may further help in identifying the factors which can be a potential threat to sustainable urban development. This chapter aims to develop an understanding about the meaning and significance of characterization of a city, or say, an urban system. In addition, it provides detail about the approaches which can be adopted for characterizing an urban system. It is expected that this chapter will succeed in developing a good understanding about the need and significance of accurate and effective characterization of a city in the context of sustainable urban development.

Geospatial Technology for Urban Sciences

Application of geospatial technology viz., remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS), and global positioning system (GPS) may have significant role in investigations related to earth system science events. Especially investigations pertaining to urban system science needs support of geospatial technology as the urban events are dynamic and complex in nature. This chapter explains about the significance of geospatial technology in the context of urban sciences. It also provides brief details about different spatial technology. Furthermore, a conceptual research methodology is provided which demonstrates the application of geospatial technology in assessing an urban event. It would help readers to develop a strong understanding about the significance of geospatial technology, and about the ways, it can be implemented for urban science investigations.

Interdisciplinary Study for Urban Sciences

Behavior of an urban system is dependent on many factors. These factors may be characterized by a different set of parameters. And understanding the complexities of an urban system would not be complete without having knowledge of these parameters. However, they may have associations with different disciplines. Therefore, there is a need to go beyond the boundaries of a discipline to understand the other aspects of a system. It would help in establishing relationship between different aspects of it. That would be significant in developing an understanding to view urban events from the angle of system sciences. However, that is not possible without interdisciplinary studies. Hence, this chapter explains the significance of interdisciplinary study in the context of urban sciences along with the challenges associated with it. Having read this chapter, it is hoped that need of interdisciplinary approach in urban sciences would be clear to the readers.

Complexity Analysis of an Urban System

Urban system is comprised of different attributes. The possibility of variation in the characteristics of these attributes cannot be ignored. In addition, human component is significant in shaping the characteristics of it. It has dynamic characteristics and difficult to measure the cognitive characteristics of it. Furthermore, their characteristics may vary with the context. Consequently, there is a huge likelihood that it may act as a bias in shaping the behavior of a city. In addition, the way different attributes interact with each other hugely influences a city. This chapter explains the meaning of complexity in the context of urban sciences. It also provides detail about the possibility of containing randomness and inconsistency using complexity analysis of urban systems. Having read this chapter, the readers will certainly develop a strong understanding about the complexity analysis. And it would help them to implement the learning in the investigations related to urban systems.

Informational Techniques for Urban Sciences

Different attributes are responsible for shaping the characteristics of a city. Effective characterization and monitoring of a city needs a strong understanding of the working of these attributes. That means there is a need of multidimensional data about these attributes for effective characterization of the city. However, there is a possibility that a huge amount of data would be generated in the process of characterizing the working of the city. In addition, it has to be understood that the data need to be studied using some scientific principles. Otherwise, it would not be possible to extract some meaningful information from the data. Therefore, this chapter aims to explain the significance of informational techniques in extracting meaningful information from the data. Having read this chapter, reader will understand the significance of application of proper informational technique investigations related to urban sciences.

Urban System

There are different attributes which are instrumental in shaping the characteristics of a city. Sustainable urban development is not possible without understanding the relationship among these attributes. And it is not possible to assess and quantify the interdependence of these attributes using a unidimensional approach. Hence, this chapter attempts to develop an understanding about the need of analyzing a city using principles of system sciences. However, there are a few issues with this approach which may escalate complexity in characterizing a city. Therefore, it further addresses the possibilities of uncertainty and randomness due to this approach. And it also explained about the possible ways to contain randomness and uncertainty in studying cities. It is believed that this chapter would succeed in developing a strong understanding about the working of cities, and the need of system science principles in investigating them.