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Fractal-based exponential distribution of urban density and self-affine fractal forms of cities

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  • Chen, Yanguang
  • Feng, Jian

Abstract

Urban population density always follows the exponential distribution and can be described with Clark’s model. Because of this, the spatial distribution of urban population used to be regarded as non-fractal pattern. However, Clark’s model differs from the exponential function in mathematics because that urban population is distributed on the fractal support of landform and land-use form. By using mathematical transform and empirical evidence, we argue that there are self-affine scaling relations and local power laws behind the exponential distribution of urban density. The scale parameter of Clark’s model indicating the characteristic radius of cities is not a real constant, but depends on the urban field we defined. So the exponential model suggests local fractal structure with two kinds of fractal parameters. The parameters can be used to characterize urban space filling, spatial correlation, self-affine properties, and self-organized evolution. The case study of the city of Hangzhou, China, is employed to verify the theoretical inference. Based on the empirical analysis, a three-ring model of cities is presented and a city is conceptually divided into three layers from core to periphery. The scaling region and non-scaling region appear alternately in the city. This model may be helpful for future urban studies and city planning.

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  • Chen, Yanguang & Feng, Jian, 2012. "Fractal-based exponential distribution of urban density and self-affine fractal forms of cities," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 45(11), pages 1404-1416.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chsofr:v:45:y:2012:i:11:p:1404-1416
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2012.07.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Man, Wang & Nie, Qin & Li, Zongmei & Li, Hui & Wu, Xuewen, 2019. "Using fractals and multifractals to characterize the spatiotemporal pattern of impervious surfaces in a coastal city: Xiamen, China," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 520(C), pages 44-53.
    2. Haosu Zhao & Bart Julien Dewancker & Feng Hua & Junping He & Weijun Gao, 2020. "Restrictions of Historical Tissues on Urban Growth, Self-Sustaining Agglomeration in Walled Cities of Chinese Origin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-29, July.
    3. Chen, Yanguang, 2013. "A set of formulae on fractal dimension relations and its application to urban form," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 150-158.
    4. Chen, Yanguang & Feng, Jian, 2017. "Spatial analysis of cities using Renyi entropy and fractal parameters," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 279-287.

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