The Spatial Roots of Urban Growth: Modelling Urban Dynamics with Space Syntax

The intricate interplay among urban sub-systems poses significant challenges in comprehensively interpreting urban dynamics and assessing the efficacy of urban planning strategies. Spatial modelling stands out as a crucial tool for analysis and decision-making in this context. This paper investigates the potential of Space Syntax in extracting intrinsic characteristics vital for understanding urban growth dynamics and spatial phenomena. Specifically, the study explores the inherently multiscale nature of Space Syntax, which offers a diverse array of techniques and measures for analysing urban systems, spanning from regional to architectural scales. In particular, the investigation focuses on the capability of Space Syntax to estimate vehicular and pedestrian flows and their correlation with the distribution of commercial activities, both at urban and neighbourhood scales, with a specific emphasis on the case study of Pisa, Italy, leveraging Angular Segment Analysis. In addition to the analytical exploration, the paper provides a concise historical overview, highlighting the transformations and peculiarities of Pisa’s current urban form. The findings underscore the potential of the proposed methodology and Space Syntax multiscale approach for analysing urban settlements. Notably, the research reveals a correlation between heavily traversed streets and the localisation of commercial activities. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of urban dynamics and offer valuable implications for urban planning and design.