Information Theory, Entropy and Urban Spatial Structure: Ankara Population Density Distributions ( 1970-1990 ) - Softcover

Esmer, Özcan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3846557366 ISBN 13: 9783846557365

Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2011

Synopsis

This book aims to show how the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) approach has changed deeply the traditional research methods in regional and urban geography as the result of paradigm shifts occurred during the last 50 years. MaxEnt method as pioneered by A. Wilson (1967,1970) and “Spatial Entropy” concept by M. Batty (1974) have been based on the Information Theory that was founded by Shannon (1948), E.T.Jaynes (1957) and Kullback (1959) and others. Information Theory has provided the theoretical foundation for challenging the uncertainty and incomplete information issues concerning the complex urban structure. MaxEnt, as a new logic, aims to assign probabilities “maximally noncommittal” with respect to the missing information. This dissertation applies Spatial Entropy measures to Ankara 1970 and 1990 census data by 34 zones and compares the population density changes during the two decades. This book shall not only guide young generations to understand the past contributions but also encourage them to make further researches under the information-theoric Weltanschauung.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Özcan Esmer is a senior lecturer in the City and Regional Planning Department at the Middle East Technical University (METU),Ankara, where he taught modelling and participated in urban planning studios.He is the author of “The Fourth Cybernetics“ (1986 ), among others, and was the METU team-leader of the INSURE project (2007) for the EU-FP6.

Edition details

• Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3846557366
• ISBN 13: 9783846557365
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 260