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Describing and Understanding the Morphology of the Urban Landscape. The Case Study of Cagliari, Italy

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Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2023 Workshops (ICCSA 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 14111))

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Abstract

The development of a morphological analysis of the built environment emerges as a central issue for comprehending the structural properties of the urban layout and its generative processes and for establishing a knowledge framework for guiding planning decisions. The proposed study presents an analysis that combines space syntax and geo-spatial analysis tools to describe urban form quantitatively. The suggested analysis is structured as follows: i) definition of the case study and identification of available datasets; ii) definition of metrics for the description of the built environment; iii) discerning of distinct areas of the urbanised region, homogeneous in terms of configurational and functional properties. The proposed analysis is utilised to analyse the metropolitan area of Cagliari, in Sardinia, Italy. The case study underlines the relevance of developing a morphological understanding of urban form for addressing two issues: i) the definition of metrics for the description of the built environment, and ii) the discerning of distinct areas of the urbanised region. The proposed analysis contributes to applying the Geodesign paradigm to the urban realm by supporting the understanding of the spatial culture of a place.

This paper is the result of the joint work of the authors. ‘Abstract’, and ‘Datasets And Methods’ were written jointly by the authors. Alfonso Annunziata wrote ‘Theoretical Framework’, and ‘Results’. Chiara Garau wrote the ‘Introduction’ and ‘Conclusions’. Chiara Garau coordinated and supervised the paper.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the MIUR through the project “WEAKI TRANSIT: WEAK”-demand areas Innovative TRANsport Shared services for Italian Towns (Project protocol: 20174ARRHT_004; CUP Code: F74I19001290001), financed with the PRIN 2017 (Research Projects of National Relevance) programme. We authorize the MIUR to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes, notwithstanding any copyright notations thereon. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the MIUR. This study was developed within the Interdepartmental Center of the University of Cagliari “Cagliari Accessibility Lab”. (Rector’s Decree of 4 March 2020. https://www.unica.it/unica/it/cagliari_accessibility_lab.page). This study was also supported by the agreement “Evoluzione delle Condizioni di marginalità delle aree interne” stipulated between the School of Engineering of the University of Basilicata (SI-UNIBAS) and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture of the University of Cagliari, (DICAAR_UNICA), scientific coordinators: Beniamino Murgante (UNIBAS) and Chiara Garau (UNICA). This study was also conducted within the “e.INS – Ecosystem of Innovation for Next Generation Sardinia” funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research under the Next-Generation EU Programme (National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNRR, M4C2, INVESTMENT 1.5 – DD 1056 of 23/06/2022, ECS00000038). This manuscript reflects only the authors’ views and opinions, neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be considered responsible for them.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Chiara Garau & Alfonso Annunziata

Authors
  1. Chiara Garau
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  2. Alfonso Annunziata
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chiara Garau .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Osvaldo Gervasi

  2. University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy

    Beniamino Murgante

  3. University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Ana Maria A. C. Rocha

  4. University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Chiara Garau

  5. University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy

    Francesco Scorza

  6. University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Yeliz Karaca

  7. Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Carmelo M. Torre

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Garau, C., Annunziata, A. (2023). Describing and Understanding the Morphology of the Urban Landscape. The Case Study of Cagliari, Italy. In: Gervasi, O., et al. Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2023 Workshops. ICCSA 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14111. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37126-4_30

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37126-4_30

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