Abstract
Complex systems analysis is a widely used technique for assessing urban efficiency and sustainability of cities. However, sustainable cities need an effective energy management strategy based on regulations. This research aims to better understand sustainability efficiency of cities by establishing a link between complexity and urban energy consumption. The study demonstrated a technique for estimating physical complexity based on the built environment in an urban region. Accordingly, it applied quantitative measurements of complexity to urban form using empirical methods and information analysis. Consequently, the study evaluated urban complexity and energy consumption in cities using Simpson's variety index and the passive volume ratio. The researcher examined the relationship between complexity and energy use in two districts in Erbil; one is a traditional neighborhood, while the other is part of a modern grid system. The study found that increasing the physical complexity of urban tissue results in reduced urban energy consumption. Thus, there is a chance to comprehend urban energy efficiency with the physical complexity of the city. Consequently, the findings enable decision-makers to evaluate physical complexity using a sophisticated toolset to create more sustainable cities.
Highlights
Urban areas are home to more than half of the world's population [1]
The buildings and urban texture have been analyzed based on their complexity assessment using Simpson Diversity Index (SDI) tools and evaluating energy consumption using passive volume ratio (PVR) tools to investigate the relationship between complexity and urban energy consumption
The current paper has tried to offer an inclusive investigation of concepts and indicators that work as tools by authorities and urban planners to assess the urban complexity and its relationship with urban energy consumption
Summary
Urban areas are home to more than half of the world's population [1]. cities are the primary sources of CO2 emission and pollution on earth, coming from many activities, and energy consumption is the most significant source of emissions [2]. Sustainability is related to urban structures composed of complex interactions between social, economic, cultural characteristics, energy resources, material flows, and flows at many temporal and spatial scales [4]. Such complexity presents a challenge to recognizing and coping with the causes of urban environmental issues without further degradation [5]. Based on the previous statement, the study aims to understand sustainable cities by recognizing the effect of urban physical complexity on energy consumption to aid decision-makers in the design development process. This study hypothesizes that understanding the actual relationship between urban physical complexity and energy consumption will be helpful to better spatial urban design toward more sustainable cities. The study aims to answer the following questions. 1) What is the proper method of assessing complexity in urban areas based on empirical paths? 2) What is the effect of physical complexity on urban energy consumption?
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