The theory of the natural urban transformation process: The relationship between street network configuration, density and degree of function mixture of built environments (paper)

During the last decade, advances in software, spatial analyses methods, and improved capacity of computers have made it possible to quantitatively analyse morphological features of whole cities. This emerging trend of combining geographic information system (GIS) with traditional urban morphology brings some new insights into the evolving logic of urban form and related functions. In this respect, this paper aims to propose a draft of a theory on the natural urban transformation process. This theory accounts for built environments that are not affected by rigid planning systems, regulation plans, various trusts connected to plots, religious aspects, collective memories, historic artefacts and urban areas protected by law. This theory is supported by quantitatively analysis of various morphological elements in a series of Dutch towns through the use of Geographical information systems (GIS).