An approach to study of methods for urban analysis and urban fabric renewal in observation of a city as a multiple fractal structure

Abstract

Urban forms and processes can be observed as fractal structures since in their seemingly chaotic development and complexity it can be noticed an internal order and regularity, which could be quantified and described by the methods of fractal analysis. With determination of fractal dimension it is possible to quantify the level of irregularity, the complexity and hierarchy of the urban structures, as well as the level of urban transformations in various time intersections. The fractal geometry method has been used in analyses of spatial distribution of population, networks and utilities because it corresponds more than deterministic methods to the nature of urban settlements as open, non-linear and dynamic systems. In that sense, fractal geometry becomes the means to grasp a complex morphological urban structure of urban settlements in general, the interrelationships between the inner spatial elements, and to predict future development possibilities. Moreover on the basis of urban pattern analysis by means of fractal geometry, it is possible to evaluate the growth and development process and to perform a comparative analysis of development in spatially and temporarily different settlement settings. Having in view that complex urban fabric presumes tight connections and diversity, which is in contrast to sprawl and monotony which increasingly characterize urban growth and development, this paper is a contribution to research of potential for modern urban settlements to regain the spirit of spontaneity and human dimension through application of development models that are fractal geometry based.

Urbane forme i procesi mogu da se posmatraju kao fraktalne strukture, budući da se u njihovom naizgled haotičnom razvoju i složenosti može uočiti unutrašnji red i pravilnost, koji mogu da se kvantifikuju i opišu metodima fraktalne analize. Određivanjem fraktalne dimenzije moguće je kvantifikovati stepen nepravilnosti, složenosti i hijerarhičnosti urbanih struktura, kao i stepen urbanih transformacija u različitim vremenskim presecima. Metod fraktalne geometrije se koristi u analizi prostornog rasporeda populacije mreža i namena, jer više od determinističkih metoda odgovara prirodi urbanih naselja kao otvorenih, nelinearnih i dinamičkih sistema. Fraktalna geometrija u tom smislu predstavlja sredstvo da se upozna kompleksna morfološka struktura gradova i urbanih naselja uopšte, međuodnosi unutrašnjih elemenata prostora, i na osnovu toga predvide mogućnosti daljeg razvoja. Osim toga, na temelju analize urbanih matrica putem fraktalne geometrije, može da se evaluira proces razvoja naselja i rasta, te napravi komparativna analiza razvoja u različitim prostornim i vremenskim okvirima. Imajući u vidu da gradsko tkivo u svojoj složenosti podrazumeva tesnije povezivanje i raznolikost, što je u suprotnosti sa jednoličnošću i raspršenošću struktura koje sve više karakterišu urbani rast i razvoj, ovaj rad predstavlja prilog istraživanju mogućnosti da se savremenim urbanim naseljima povrati duh spontanosti i humana razmera putem primene modela rasta zasnovanih na fraktalnoj geometriji.