Abstract.
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.
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Buhl, J., Gautrais, J., Reeves, N. et al. Topological patterns in street networks of self-organized urban settlements. Eur. Phys. J. B 49, 513–522 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2006-00085-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2006-00085-1