Exploring the relationship between functional urban polycentricity and the regional characteristics of human mobility: A multi-view analysis in the Tokyo metropolitan area

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed the academic interests of researchers in the topic of urban polycentricity. However, most previous studies have failed to the investigate the fine-scale regional characteristics of polycentricity and to examine how they vary with different urban functions at a metropolis scale. To fill this gap, this study measures the functional urban polycentricity of the Tokyo metropolitan area (TMA) at a fine scale and uncovers its relationship with the regional characteristics of human mobility patterns using a series of exploratory statistical analyses. The findings reveal a static dynamic pattern of the functional urban structure within an original multi-view analytical framework. Results prove that the relationship within each functional urban area reflects different spatiotemporal characteristics depending on its functional allocation and development level under TMA's four-level annular concentric layout. Functional complementarity and temporal symmetry can also be observed. Our achievements can not only provide rich information regarding the investigation of functional urban structure patterns but also allow urban planners to rethink the rationality and scientificity of the existing master plan.