visualising city complexity

visualising the complexity of cities

.this is what my research is about

local interactions

emergent global structure

environment

time

complex adaptive systems.

Order arising out of a complex dynamical system. (C. Langton)

Complex adaptive systems are pattern seekers. They interact with the environment, “learn” from experience and adapt as a result (Murray Gell-Mann)

.complexity

.the macroscope

3 HOW IS THE MACROSCOPE USED?Short term, allows to predict where the system is going (there are only so and so interactions possible given the elements) but, more importantly, long term, it allows to create flexible solutions that are able to adapt to the changes of the system. For this reason the mapping must be a constant activity.

The MacroscopeJoël de Rosnay

Maps of processes, actors, relations. (visualise complexity to understand it)

densitydesign.org

cities are complex, self-organising systems

(K. Lynch)

New York City Panorama, At Queens Museum (1964)

does it make sense as an urban planning tool?

“scientific” cartography’s inability to capture the contemporary city

(D. Cosgrove)images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kyletay-lor/9624268614/

openstreetmap.org

Map of Bedolina (Iron Age - Val Camonica, Italy)

animals

???

settlements

warriors

networks

.maps that tell stories

Dada

Guy Debord, The Naked City

Christian Nold San Francisco Emotion Map (2007)

Sensory Maps Kate McLean

Map Your MovesMoRiz stefaneR (2010)

.the role of data

The Smart Citizen KitacRobotics (2013)

Visual Explorations of Urban MobilityMit senseable lab

Sitegeistsunlight foundation, ideo (2012)

Change by Us NYCa pRoJect by code foR aMeRica and local pRoJects (2011)

The Metropolis of Tomorrowa book by hugh feRRiss (1929)

.the city of the “future”

MetropolisfRitz lang (1927)

.“the future”fOR sCI-fI

distropian future dominated by hardware, humans are controlled by machines and oppressed by a centraliZed dictatorial government. images: bLADE RUNNER

Black Mirror Season 1uk channel 4 Mini-seRies (2011)

THX 1138diRected by geoRge lucas (1971)

Logan’s RundiRected by Michael andeRson (1976)

back to the point

.visualisation process (a draft)

Acquire data Analyse Represent Relations

Manage Design Interventions

Scenarios

ScalePinpoint Clusters

Framing

Graining

Data

past/analysis

Information Knowledge Understanding Wisdom

future/design

Raw. No signifi-cance in itself.

Added meaning through relational connections

Appropriate collec-tion of information to make it useful

Synthesize new knowledge from knowledge.

Judgement (good-bad, right-wrong...)

research visualize Identify potential

scenarios

past/analysis future/design

research visualize Identify potential

scenarios

visualisations forfuture envisioning

breakfasts (RC4)

past/analysis future/design

research visualize Identify potential

scenarios

visualisations forfuture envisioning

breakfasts (RC4)

maps of research diagrams

past/analysis future/design

research visualize Identify potential

scenarios

visualisations forfuture envisioning

breakfasts (RC4)

map of research connections

(low res prototype)

maps of research diagrams

thank you.s.pollastri@lancaster.ac.uk