TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL MODELING OF CITY CENTER DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF COMPLEXITY THEORY: THE CASE OF KASTAMONU


Thesis Type: Doctorate

Institution Of The Thesis: Gazi University, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Turkey

Approval Date: 2022

Thesis Language: Turkish

Student: Öznur IŞINKARALAR

Supervisor: Çiğdem Varol Özden

Abstract:

Understanding the dynamic processes in cities and ensuring sustainable development can be achieved by investigating the temporal and spatial complexity inherent in cities. Today, the inadequacy of the Newtonian paradigm in explaining the organizational structure of cities consisting of complex networks and the developments through the knowledge-based perspective have brought a transformation in the mentality. Complexity theory states that relationships are nonlinear and unpredictable, depending on the interaction between the components of self-organizing systems. Cellular automata-Markov chain approach is one of the preferred methods in predictive modeling and land use change studies in complex systems and is widely used in modeling land use/land cover change. Within the scope of the study, the development of Kastamonu city center between the years 1985-2021 was analysed for specific periods, and the change in land use in planning was examined within the framework of complexity theory. The aim of the study is to understand the spatial and nonspatial change dynamics affecting the location preferences of the commercial units in the city center and to develop a quantitative model for the comparative measurement of temporal urban growth. In this context, scenarios were designed with two basic approaches of selforganized and planned development, and simulations were made for the years 2031 and 2057. When the temporal change of the morphological complexity dimension is measured, it has been determined that the self-organizing city shows a more complex development. Based on the findings, the mechanisms that are effective in the structural change in the city center and the position of planning practice in the development of the city center are discussed in the context of complexity. 

Key Words : Complexity, urban modeling, cellular automata, Markov chain, geographic information systems, urban center, Kastamonu