Spatial metrics for characterizing the urban road networks of cities with different levels of global planning

Abstract

To understand the urban growth mechanisms of cities with different levels of global planning and organization, there is a need to quantify the similarities and differences of their spatial imprints. In this work, we attempt to using fractal analysis and sinuosity indices for the road networks of cities with different planning and zoning conditions. It was found that planned, highly-organized cities have a fractality of δ = 1.5, halfway being a line and plane, due to the existence of a masterplan that limits further road network growth. On the other hand, cities which grew organically have a fractality approaching that of a plane δ ≈ 2, tending to fill the available space. Moreover, it was found out that organized cities show a characteristic road sinuosity of π, similar to self-organizing river systems, a feature not found in grown cities.