SpatCent
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SpatCent - a tool for analyzing accessibility and centrality

The current version is an early demo designed for research purposes. We appreciate your understanding if not everything works perfectly.



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Background

Cities and regions are ever-evolving landscapes shaped by a complex interplay of technological, social, and economic forces. The understanding of these forces is not only an academic interest but a practical necessity, especially in the realms of urban and transport planning. The SpatCent tool is rooted in the ambition to harness mathematical modelling and computer simulation to offer insights into urban growth and decline, bridging the gap between conceptual theory and practical application.

The foundation of this tool is built upon a detailed representation of land through a spatially fine-grained lens, coupled with the dynamics of urban interaction derived from complex network theory. It presents a novel approach to viewing urban activity: each location is a node of economic interactions, the sum of which defines its vibrancy and potential. The theory incorporates the constraints and opportunities afforded by the physical world, such as the intricacies of transport networks and the directives of land use regulations.

At the heart of the tool's analytical capabilities is the concept of 'preferential centrality', a model validated by an extensive dataset of Swedish land taxation values, which serve as proxies for urban economic activity. The empirical data suggest that land values follow a power law distribution—a characteristic indicative of complex networks and multiplicative growth processes. By integrating this understanding with the spatial interactions facilitated by transport networks, the tool offers a preferential centrality model that has the potential to catch many features of the empirical geographical patterns of land values.

The tool is not just a theoretical model; our vision is a practical instrument for both urban and transport planing. The current demo enables the exploration of various scenarios, such as the impact of transport infrastructure on urban potential. As the tool evolves, it will encompass a wider array of centrality and accessibility measures, each providing a unique perspective on the structure of spatial networks and their relation to social and economic activity.

At its core, the SpatCent tool aims to offer insights into how transportation networks and urban economic activities are interconnected, contributing to the fields of urban and transport planning and the development of our cities and regions.

The tool is built and maintained by researchers Alexander Hellervik and Claes Andersson at Chalmers University of Technology.

Relevant publications:


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