Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fractal features of urban morphology and simulation of urban boundary

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Geo-spatial Information Science

Abstract

Using fractal dimension to reflect and simulate urban morphology are two applications of fractal theory in city geography. As the only consistent description of a fractal, fractal dimension plays an important role in describing the basic features of fractals. Just like other fractals, our cities have similar characteristics. Fractal dimension to some extent is regarded as an indicator of urban expansion, and it may change with urban morphology in different time and space. Based on the Geographic Information System (GIS), taking Wuhan city as a test area, the fractal dimensions of different land use were calculated, and a linear regression equation was established to analyze the relationship between fractal dimension and residential areas. Then the author used fractal dimension to simulate the urban boundary which is an important part of urban morphology. A mid-point subdivision fractal generator is needed in the simulation process, and the shape of the generator is determined by fractal dimension. According to the fractal theory, fractal boundaries in different scales have self-similarity and they have the same fractal dimensions. Based on this fact, the simulation method the author used could quantitatively keep the similarity of configuration of the urban boundaries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mandelbrot B (1967) How long is the coast of Britain? Statistical self-similarity and fractional dimension[J]. Science, 156(3775): 636–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jin Yiwen, Lu Shijie (1998) Fractal geometry theory and application[M]. Hangzhou: Zhejiang University Press (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Li Jiang (2005) Fractal dimension of urban spatial morphology and its application[J]. Engineering Journal of Wuhan University, 38(3): 99–103 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Li Jiang (2004) Evolvement of spatial morphology in out areas of cities[J]. Resource and Environment in the Yangtzi Basin, 38(3): 208–211 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hu Rian, Hu Jiyang, Xu Shugong (1995) Computer images of fractals and its application[M]. Beijing: China Railway Publishing House (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Longley P A, Batty M (1989) Fractal measurement and line generalization[J]. Computers & Geoscience, 15(2): 167–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Batty M, Longley P A (1994) Fractal citie: a geometry of form and function[M]. London: Academic Press

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430079, China

    Yi Zhang

Authors
  1. Yi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jie Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wei Fan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yi Zhang.

Additional information

Supported by the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry.

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, Y., Yu, J. & Fan, W. Fractal features of urban morphology and simulation of urban boundary. Geo-spat. Inf. Sci. 11, 121–126 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11806-008-0032-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11806-008-0032-9

Keywords

CLC number

Search

Navigation