Papers by Stephen Marshall
Networks and Spatial Economics, 2018
Over the last fifty years, research into street networks has gained prominence with a rapidly gro... more Over the last fifty years, research into street networks has gained prominence with a rapidly growing number of studies across disparate disciplines. These studies investigate a wide range of phenomena using a wealth of data and diverse analytical techniques. Starting within the fields of transport or infrastructure engineering, street networks have commonly been treated as sets of more or less homogeneous linear elements, connecting locations and intersecting at junctions. This view is commonly represented as a graph, which provides a common and rigorous formalisation accessible across disciplines and is particularly well-suited for problems such as flow optimisation and routing. Street networks are, however, complex objects of investigation and the way we model and then represent them as graphs has fundamental effects on the outcomes of a study. Many approaches to modelling street networks have been proposed, each lending itself to different analyses and supporting insights into diverse aspects of the urban system. Yet, this plurality and the relation between different models remains relatively obscure and unexplored. The motivations for adopting a given model of the network are also not always clear and often seem to follow disciplinary traditions. This paper provides an overview of key street network models and the prima facie merits of pertinent alternative approaches. It suggests greater attention to consistent use of terms and concepts, of graph representations and practical applications, and concludes with suggestions for possible ways forward.
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Landscape and Urban Planning, 2017
Patrick Geddes articulated the growth and design of cities in the early years of the town plannin... more Patrick Geddes articulated the growth and design of cities in the early years of the town planning movement in Britain using biological principles of which Darwin’s (1859) theory of evolution was central. His ideas about social evolution, the design of local communities, and his repeated calls for comprehensive understanding through regional survey and plan laid the groundwork for much practical planning in the mid 20th century, both with respect to an embryonic theory of cities and the practice of planning. But Geddes had a much wider agenda that town planning per se. He sought after a philosophy of life that went well beyond Darwinism verging almost on the spiritual at times. Yet his personal approach and the limits he imposed on his formal thinking meant that he was never able to establish his big picture in a way that later generations could easily grasp and build upon. He left us with enticing ideas, evocative phrases, and a practical philosophy of doing planning and building communities that has indeed survived as something more than a footnote in history. In this essay, we identify the key paradox of modern planning which seeks to intervene in systems that have enormous complexity, growing and evolving rather than being designed in any top-down fashion. We illustrate this paradox through Geddes’ own career and life in which this tension between bottom up and top down was always to the forefront. We then sketch his influence on practicing planners and key intellectuals of the mid to late 20th century—Abercrombie and Mumford, Jacobs and Alexander. We bring this history of Geddes’ influence up to contemporary times when the complexity sciences with all their focus on evolving systems, now permeate our thinking, suggesting various ways in which we might examine the history of the planning in the last 100 years in a new light through the lens of Geddes’ arguments and principles.
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Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2016
Road hierarchy and network structure are intimately linked; however, there is not a consistent ba... more Road hierarchy and network structure are intimately linked; however, there is not a consistent basis for representing and analyzing the particular hierarchical nature of road network structure. This paper introduces the line structure—identified mathematically as a kind of linearly ordered incidence structure—as a means of representing road network structure and demonstrates its relation to existing representations of road networks: the “primal” graph, the “dual” graph, and the route structure. In doing so, the paper shows how properties of continuity, junction type, and hierarchy relating to differential continuity and termination are necessarily absent from primal and dual graph representations but intrinsically present in line structure representations. A new property indicative of hierarchical status—“cardinality”—is introduced and illustrated with application to example networks. The paper concludes by highlighting newly explicit relationships between different kinds of road network structure representation.
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Urban Morphology, 2015
A system for representing and analysing town plans as ‘area
structures’ is presented. This start... more A system for representing and analysing town plans as ‘area
structures’ is presented. This starts from the observation that a town plan is a geometric object featuring areas whose relations can be articulated using diagrams and symbols. Devices such as the ‘containment graph’ and ‘area-stratum diagram’ are introduced, and a set of conventions for symbolic notation is demonstrated. These are used to represent morphological relations and operations. The paper
suggests interpreting urban land, plots and building footprints as three ‘media’ (A, B, C) and uses symbolic notation to articulate typical urban morphological structures and relates these to existing urban form terminology. The area structure approach is used to interpret typical
relationships at the block scale, including those between containment, subdivision, access and adjacency. Symbolic formulae are applied to characterize different kinds of urban morphology: onward linkage to ‘morphospace’ and design is suggested.
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Urban Design International, Nov 10, 2012
Urban design theory has been criticised for being incoherent and insubstantial. It is suggested t... more Urban design theory has been criticised for being incoherent and insubstantial. It is suggested that this is partly because urban design theory is not robustly based on a fully scientific underpinning. In so far as urban design theory appears to be scientific, it is in danger of being pseudo-scientific. This article explores the relationship between science and pseudo-science, and questions the extent to which urban design theory could be called pseudo-scientific, by considering the hypotheses underlying four classic urban design theory texts. It is found that although the individual texts are more or less scientific, the way the field as a whole combines and uses these can be interpreted as pseudo- scientific. The article reflects on the interpretation of pseudo-science and suggests the need for urban design to have a better system of validation and critical assimilation of scientific knowledge.
Town Planning Review (Centenary series) , Nov 2009
One hundred years ago, the first coordinated reactions to the urban chaos of the industrial revol... more One hundred years ago, the first coordinated reactions to the urban chaos of the industrial revolution were being established though a system of centralised planning, while the rudiments of a theory underpinning this collective action were also being fashioned, through the writings and rhetoric of Patrick Geddes. Drawing on Darwin's theory of natural selection, he laid the foundations for a response to urban growth that drew loosely on ideas of evolution, but which ultimately became established through the imposition of a top-down 'organic' order in city and regional plans associated with the work of Patrick Abercrombie, one of Geddes' best-known followers. This approach was rooted in 'physicalism', a perspective that assumed social problems might be solved by manipulating the physical built environment. This ideology began to fragment from the mid-twentieth century on as questions over its effectiveness in generating more liveable and equitable urban environments grew. Now, however, there are signs that with the contemporary problems of climate change, energy and sustainability, this viewpoint is being reasserted. We argue that the seeds of this perspective were first developed 100 years or more ago, primarily by Patrick Geddes, but that his unique style diverted the field from grasping the real message of an evolutionary physicalism, which is only now becoming apparent.
Town & Country Planning, Nov 2009
Progress in Planning, Jan 1, 2006
Design codes are nothing new, but in recent years have increasingly been identified. both in the ... more Design codes are nothing new, but in recent years have increasingly been identified. both in the urban design literature and in practice. as tools that might help to deliver better quality development, more efficiently, and in a more inclusive manner that better integrates the ...
Books by Stephen Marshall
Integração de usos do solo e transportes em cidades de média dimensão (Integration of Land Use and Transport in Medium-sized Cities), 2018
In this chapter we look first at a historical sketch of integrated planning, then examine in more... more In this chapter we look first at a historical sketch of integrated planning, then examine in more detail the dynamics of land use and transport interactions, leading to an evolutionary interpretation, from which implications for integrated planning are drawn.
Working Papers by Stephen Marshall
CASA working paper series. , Aug 19, 2015
This working paper sets out an interpretation of the line structure as a device for representing ... more This working paper sets out an interpretation of the line structure as a device for representing network structure. First, the line structure (S#) is briefly introduced with reference to Euclidean and Cartesian geometry. Then its relation to the primal graph (G’) and dual graph (G’’) are set out, demonstrated using an intermediate form, the hypergraph H#. A series of point matrices and line matrices for specifying the line structure are set out, from which line structural properties such as continuity and connectivity are derived.
This working paper sets out a proposal for a protocol for interpreting a route structure represen... more This working paper sets out a proposal for a protocol for interpreting a route structure representation from a road layout. The rationale for the protocol is explained using example layouts, and compared briefly with other methods of representing streets in network analysis. This protocol allows the potential for automated generation of route structures for use in network analysis.
This working paper sets out a series of route structural properties and how these may be obtained... more This working paper sets out a series of route structural properties and how these may be obtained from two kinds of matrix: the parametric junction matrix and the parametric route matrix. The paper is primarily a consolidation and integration of existing interpretations of route structures and route structure properties, in the light of line structure interpretations.
This paper sets out a system of analysing the structure of road networks, namely Route Structure ... more This paper sets out a system of analysing the structure of road networks, namely Route Structure Analysis (RSA). The paper first sets out the basic route structural properties of
continuity, connectivity and depth, and their relationships, as properties of individual routes and as properties of networks. Triangular diagrams are used to plot these properties for theoretical route and network types. The paper concludes by suggesting further applications of this kind of ‘structural analysis’.
Research Reports by Stephen Marshall
ARTISTS Project Deliverable Report D1.1: A First Theoretical Approach to Classification of Arterial Streets, Jul 2002
The ARTISTS project (Arterial Streets Towards Sustainability) is concerned with the design and ma... more The ARTISTS project (Arterial Streets Towards Sustainability) is concerned with the design and management of arterial streets towards sustainability. In a broad sense this relates not
only to environmental quality but to social and economic vitality and urban quality of life. The purpose of this Deliverable is to give a first theoretical approach to street classification that better meets the current needs of managing and promoting sustainable arterial streets.
ARTISTS Project Deliverable Report D1: A Framework for Classification and Assessment of Arterial Streets, Jul 2004
This report describes the development within the ARTISTS project (Arterial Streets Towards Sustai... more This report describes the development within the ARTISTS project (Arterial Streets Towards Sustainability) of a methodology for the classification and assessment of arterial streets. This links
classification and assessment to and through issues of street design and regulation, street use, and performance in terms of sustainability.
Arterial Streets for People (ARTISTS Final Report), Nov 2004
Conventional guidance on the design and management of urban roads and streets has tended to focus... more Conventional guidance on the design and management of urban roads and streets has tended to focus on either arterial roads or local access streets. There is currently a lack of a clear, consistent approach to the design of arterial streets, which combine both
significant through traffic and urban place functions. This report aims to address this gap, by setting out an approach to the design and management of arterial streets - from a people-oriented perspective.
TRANSPLUS Deliverable Report D4: Barriers, Solutions and Transferability, Feb 2003
This document constitutes Deliverable report D4 – “Barriers, Solutions and Transferability” - of ... more This document constitutes Deliverable report D4 – “Barriers, Solutions and Transferability” - of the EU project TRANSPLUS (Transport Planning, Land Use and Sustainability).
This reports on the relationships between different transport and
land use planning policies, their implementation and barriers to success, their transferability in terms of institutional contexts and transfer of policies, drawing from several European case studies.
The report demonstrates that study of the basic relationships between actors, instruments and territories can help to understand various mechanisms or conditions by which barriers may arise, which may hinder successful implementation and transfer of measures. The framework of relationships between institutions, instruments and territories can be used to help define different kinds of barrier in such a way that generalisations across cases become possible."
TRANSPLUS Deliverable Report D4: Barriers, Solutions and Transferability (Appendices, part), Feb 2003
This document contains the following Appendices:
1. System representation of Areas, Layers and L... more This document contains the following Appendices:
1. System representation of Areas, Layers and Levels
2. TRANSPLUS case studies – Cities and Metropolitan areas
3. System representations of TRANSPLUS case studies
4. Glossary
Archive by Stephen Marshall
This note illustrates four pairs of key concepts - city design versus urban order; corporate vers... more This note illustrates four pairs of key concepts - city design versus urban order; corporate versus collective; city as organism versus city as ecosystem; city development versus urban evolution.
This essay outlines an evolutionary interpretation of urbanism, and suggests implications for New... more This essay outlines an evolutionary interpretation of urbanism, and suggests implications for New Urbanism.
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Papers by Stephen Marshall
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structures’ is presented. This starts from the observation that a town plan is a geometric object featuring areas whose relations can be articulated using diagrams and symbols. Devices such as the ‘containment graph’ and ‘area-stratum diagram’ are introduced, and a set of conventions for symbolic notation is demonstrated. These are used to represent morphological relations and operations. The paper
suggests interpreting urban land, plots and building footprints as three ‘media’ (A, B, C) and uses symbolic notation to articulate typical urban morphological structures and relates these to existing urban form terminology. The area structure approach is used to interpret typical
relationships at the block scale, including those between containment, subdivision, access and adjacency. Symbolic formulae are applied to characterize different kinds of urban morphology: onward linkage to ‘morphospace’ and design is suggested.
TO ACCESS JOURNAL/PAPER > > > > > PLEASE CLICK "1 File" ABOVE ON urbanform.org
Books by Stephen Marshall
Working Papers by Stephen Marshall
continuity, connectivity and depth, and their relationships, as properties of individual routes and as properties of networks. Triangular diagrams are used to plot these properties for theoretical route and network types. The paper concludes by suggesting further applications of this kind of ‘structural analysis’.
Research Reports by Stephen Marshall
only to environmental quality but to social and economic vitality and urban quality of life. The purpose of this Deliverable is to give a first theoretical approach to street classification that better meets the current needs of managing and promoting sustainable arterial streets.
classification and assessment to and through issues of street design and regulation, street use, and performance in terms of sustainability.
significant through traffic and urban place functions. This report aims to address this gap, by setting out an approach to the design and management of arterial streets - from a people-oriented perspective.
This reports on the relationships between different transport and
land use planning policies, their implementation and barriers to success, their transferability in terms of institutional contexts and transfer of policies, drawing from several European case studies.
The report demonstrates that study of the basic relationships between actors, instruments and territories can help to understand various mechanisms or conditions by which barriers may arise, which may hinder successful implementation and transfer of measures. The framework of relationships between institutions, instruments and territories can be used to help define different kinds of barrier in such a way that generalisations across cases become possible."
1. System representation of Areas, Layers and Levels
2. TRANSPLUS case studies – Cities and Metropolitan areas
3. System representations of TRANSPLUS case studies
4. Glossary
Archive by Stephen Marshall
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structures’ is presented. This starts from the observation that a town plan is a geometric object featuring areas whose relations can be articulated using diagrams and symbols. Devices such as the ‘containment graph’ and ‘area-stratum diagram’ are introduced, and a set of conventions for symbolic notation is demonstrated. These are used to represent morphological relations and operations. The paper
suggests interpreting urban land, plots and building footprints as three ‘media’ (A, B, C) and uses symbolic notation to articulate typical urban morphological structures and relates these to existing urban form terminology. The area structure approach is used to interpret typical
relationships at the block scale, including those between containment, subdivision, access and adjacency. Symbolic formulae are applied to characterize different kinds of urban morphology: onward linkage to ‘morphospace’ and design is suggested.
TO ACCESS JOURNAL/PAPER > > > > > PLEASE CLICK "1 File" ABOVE ON urbanform.org
continuity, connectivity and depth, and their relationships, as properties of individual routes and as properties of networks. Triangular diagrams are used to plot these properties for theoretical route and network types. The paper concludes by suggesting further applications of this kind of ‘structural analysis’.
only to environmental quality but to social and economic vitality and urban quality of life. The purpose of this Deliverable is to give a first theoretical approach to street classification that better meets the current needs of managing and promoting sustainable arterial streets.
classification and assessment to and through issues of street design and regulation, street use, and performance in terms of sustainability.
significant through traffic and urban place functions. This report aims to address this gap, by setting out an approach to the design and management of arterial streets - from a people-oriented perspective.
This reports on the relationships between different transport and
land use planning policies, their implementation and barriers to success, their transferability in terms of institutional contexts and transfer of policies, drawing from several European case studies.
The report demonstrates that study of the basic relationships between actors, instruments and territories can help to understand various mechanisms or conditions by which barriers may arise, which may hinder successful implementation and transfer of measures. The framework of relationships between institutions, instruments and territories can be used to help define different kinds of barrier in such a way that generalisations across cases become possible."
1. System representation of Areas, Layers and Levels
2. TRANSPLUS case studies – Cities and Metropolitan areas
3. System representations of TRANSPLUS case studies
4. Glossary
rethinking the ways design professions recognise street type and function in the design of urban structure.