What is the best shape of a city? Modelling the effect of urban form on travel distance

Source abstract

Urban form plays a crucial role in shaping transportation patterns, accessibility, service provision, and energy consumption, among many other factors. This study examines the relationship between urban form and transportation energy use by developing a parametric model that simulates urban forms and their impact on travel distances. It explores various morphologies, including sprawling, elongated, and compact cities. The study defines the city’s profile, capturing its heterogeneity and spatial distribution of building heights. It considers five urban profiles: ‘needle’, ‘pyramid’, ‘pancake’, ‘bowl’, and ‘ring’. An interactive visualisation and calculator were designed using this parametric approach, offering an intuitive framework for systematically analysing trade-offs among different urban forms. Findings suggest that the city’s profile, along with sprawl and elongation, are the most influential factors in determining the total travel distance in the city.