Fractalopolis : a fractal concept for the sustainable development of metropolitean areas

The debate about how to manage sustainable development on the scale of metropolitan areas is still ongoing. Many scholars blame urban sprawl with its concomitant pollution and energy consumption for exacerbating traffic congestion and harming the natural environment. The present chapter develops a nuanced view of suburbanization focusing on social demand and environmental issues. It would be pointless to simply dismiss suburbanization. We show how the scaling properties of fractal geometry can help in designing development scenarios that optimize the spatial organization of metropolitan areas. The fractal concept meets the needs of residents while addressing various environmental issues.