Abstract Summary
In previous research, we have developed a method for urban diversity mapping. As applications of this method, we have demonstrated how to map the diversity of urban activities, building materials, and architectural styles, as well as the diversity of news coverage about any urban area. We are now further expanding this previous research by taking urban mobility into account when estimating experienced diversity in urban space. Technically, in our initial research, we estimated the diversity of each point in geographical space by looking at a fixed-size area around the point in question. For example, our initial question was: how diverse is the 1000x1000m2 -area around each point in urban space. Our new question is: How far can a person get in 15 minutes from each point in urban space, and how much diversity does this person then encounter? Evidently, each point we now study is surrounded by a uniquely-shaped so-called “15-min isochrone”. The scale of analysis is no longer a 1000x1000m2 grid, it is a dynamic set of 15-min isochrones. Thus, using the isochrones as a scale of analysis, we make a connection between urban mobility and experienced diversity. As a practical application of this method, we now look at Tel Aviv. The city is building a new light rail. We calculate 15-minutes isochrones for several thousand locations before and after the light rail is built. We then use this information to estimate diversity before and after. In a final step, we use these estimates to create a diversity map that shows how the experienced diversity is changing in response to changes in urban mobility. Thus, our approach does not stop at studying urban mobility alone. We link the study of urban mobility to that of urban diversity. From the study of urban mobility, we can draw direct conclusions about changes in perceived urban diversity. Our results will fit into the topic of the present conference because diversity mapping is closely tied to nonlinear modeling and is a good way to describe the nonlinear or "messy" aspects of urban life, which this conference is dedicated to.
