Andres Sevstuk, lecturer at MIT and head of the City Form Research Group describes how the new Urban Network Analysis toolbox is "taking a much more rigorous approach to look at the work of urban design."
Sevstuk claims that his new data analysis package examines how the form of a city affects the life that goes on in it. The software analyzes attributes of various locations to measure their "reach," how many jobs, or residences are accessible when traveling by the street network; or "betweeness," a measure that can estimate the volume of foot traffic an area receives.
The program has already provided some counter intuitive insights. In a restaurant-dense area like Inman Square, the presence of competitors works to businesses' advantage: "The idea there is by forming a cluster, they manage to attract a much larger clientele than the sum of each one alone,'' he said.
Such tools can also give planners a better handle on how to rationally fix cities.
FULL STORY: Urban Analysis
New MIT Data Analysis Tool Aims To Rationalize Planning
Andres Sevstuk, lecturer at MIT and head of the City Form Research Group describes how the new Urban Network Analysis Toolbox is, "taking a much more rigorous approach to look at the work of urban design."
Boston's Data-Driven Bus System Makeover
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The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research