About fractal models in urban geography and planning: refuting the aesthetics and the universal norm

Cécile Tannier (1)

1 LCE - Laboratoire Chrono-environnement (UMR 6249)

Fractal models have been used in urban geography for forty years. Their main applications were for analyzing urban forms but they were also used to simulate urban growth. Research in the field has significantly contributed to better characterise the local and global shape of cities and to better understand their evolutions. Yet concomitantly, one can deplore the circulation of some myths about the interpretation of fractal analysis results and about the possible usage of fractal models for urban analysis and planning. I propose here to undermine some of these myths on the basis on some scientific publications in the field.

Domaines: Géographie

Cécile Tannier. About fractal models in urban geography and planning: refuting the aesthetics and the universal norm. 2018. ⟨hal-01744138⟩