Entropy and Scale-Dependence in Urban Modelling

Dear Colleagues,

Cities are complex systems that require resources to function. They are maintained in more or less stable states by exchanging entropy across their boundaries: Relatively low entropy resources are imported, processed and higher entropy wastes are exported. Entropy, as originally developed by Boltzmann, measures all microscopic-scale configurations of the universe, and in combination with the second law of thermodynamics, provides a robust metric for assessing universal irreversibility, and therefore future sustainability. This thermodynamic entropy, is dominated in practice by energy use. At macroscopic scales, cities exhibit non-trivial patterns and configurations, e.g., in land use and traffic flows. Information entropy, as developed by Shannon and Von Neumann, assesses the variations within these patterns and configurations without explicitly addressing the underlying variations at microscopic scales. This macroscopic information entropy plays a prominent role in urban modelling and optimization. In his seminal 1970 book ‘Entropy in Urban and Regional Modelling’, Alan Wilson established entropy maximization as a versatile method for a range of urban studies.

This Special Issue focuses on the application of entropy in modelling and evaluating urbanisation at multiple scales. The aim is to clarify the boundaries of applicability of thermodynamic and information entropies, to demonstrate their utility and to identify promising avenues for future exploration.

Prof. Darren Robinson
Dr. Yong Mao
Guest Editors

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