https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2006-00085-1
Topological patterns in street networks of self-organized urban settlements
1
Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, CNRS UMR 5169, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
2
Laboratoire NXI GESTATIO, Département de Design, Université du Québec à Montréal, Case Postale 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal Québec, H3C 3P8, Canada
3
ICREA-Complex Systems Lab,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
4
Laboratoire d'Informatique Nantes-Atlantique, Université de Nantes, BP 92208, 2 rue de la Houssinière, 44322 Nantes Cedex 03, France
Corresponding author: a buhl@cict.fr
Received:
7
September
2005
Revised:
5
January
2006
Published online:
31
March
2006
Many urban settlements result from a spatially distributed, decentralized building process. Here we analyze the topological patterns of organization of a large collection of such settlements using the approach of complex networks. The global efficiency (based on the inverse of shortest-path lengths), robustness to disconnections and cost (in terms of length) of these graphs is studied and their possible origins analyzed. A wide range of patterns is found, from tree-like settlements (highly vulnerable to random failures) to meshed urban patterns. The latter are shown to be more robust and efficient.
PACS: 89.75.Hc – Networks and genealogical trees / 89.40.Bb – Land transportation / 89.65.Lm – Urban planning and construction
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2006