Urban Analytics

Theory

The objective of the course is to deliver analysis tools applicable to existing urban areas in order to understand their nature and structure

Any urban area is the product of an accumulation of different periods. These can help us to better understand the movement of ideas that shaped its streets and places. Each place is unique.

Reading an urban environment, through its built (buildings and open spaces) and unbuilt components (norms, practices, uses), as well as the appropriation mechanism by inhabitants and users is essential for guiding future interventions.

The urban environment is here considered as a system that combines a series of elements in interaction. Each element has an internal and external logic. The environment of each element is important to understand its evolution (scale effect).


Urban analytics is a relatively young scientifc discipline. It is based on the application of digital tools and metods to urban data, through the use of GIS combined with statistical methods.

The course is struictured along the following content:

• How is the city shaped: an introduction
• Urban form as a process: growth and invariants
• Urban structures: patterns and systems
• Urban typologies and archetypes
• Urban density: indicators and effects
• Urban open space analysis: principles and methods
• Urban accessibility: activities and services
• Urban practices: use and appropriation of places

Sustainability and transition

This part of this course aims to provide students with a scientific knowledge base from a full range of disciplines pertaining to the environmental and social issues of sustainability and transition.

Theory

Town planning is an analytical, strategic, operational and regulatory approach. This introductory urban planning course focuses on the analytical approach.

The objective that we pursue here is to provide keys to interpreting the urban fabrics constituted, in all their complexity and richness. Also, when the text refers to city models, it is less with a view to aiding design than as a support for reflection in relation to the existing and in particular in relation to recent transformations of the city . Any city is in fact the product of the accumulation of different strata of development and we can find there the trace of the different currents of thought which have marked the development of urban thought as well as the succession of activities which have marked the particular history of each city.

Learning to read this environment means not only recognizing these traces of the past, but also interpreting their recent transformations as well as the forms of appropriation to which they give rise on the part of the population. From this perspective, the urban environment will be understood as a system associating a series of elements in constant interaction and each element only finds its reason for being and its own logic when placed within a larger whole.

Sustainability and transition

At the end of this part of this course, and on the basis of the scientific content presented, students will be able to:

 

• Describe, differentiate and question the dynamics and interactions of the different spheres of the Earth system
• Describe and analyse the interactions between the human and the Earth systems;
• Demonstrate the importance of considering the issues of sustainability and transition from a systemic point of view;
• Develop a critical and reflective mindset that enables them to analyse current issues;

Theory

There are no prerequisistes for this course.

Sustainability and transition

None 

Theory

The objectives of the assignment are:

• Applying theoretical methods/approaches, and more specifically the morphological, typological
• and functional analyses
• Understanding the concepts associated with these methods
• Combining different approaches articulating a coherent discourse
• Developing a systemic understanding of the city

• Evolution of the urban fabric: site scale analysis
• Organisation of buildings, blocks and parcels.
• Typo-morphology of buildings/parcels
• Location of urban functions
• Mobility and flows

Sustainability and transition

Contents learned autonomously include:

• Videos.

• Video transcripts.
• Additional resources (optional) 

Theory

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

In person classes. Theoretical courses + Practical assignemnt

The slides are available on a shared Drive. The students are required to analyse the material proposed on the drive (slides + articles).

Sustainability and transition

Remote course


Further information:

The teaching method is distance learning. The part of this course is made up of several videos and recommends optional reading material.

Theory

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- Microsoft Teams


Further information:

The students are expected to read at least one of these books.

Analyse urbaine
Philippe Panerai, Jean-Charles Depaule, Marcelle Demorgon

Formes urbaines de l'îlot à la barre
Philippe Panerai, Jean Castex, Jean-Charles Depaule

Composition urbaine
Pierre Pinon

Où va la ville aujourd'hui ? Formes urbaines et mixités
Jacques Lucan

Responsive environments
Ian Bently, Alan Alcock, Paul Murrain, Sue McGlynn, Graham Smith

The image of the City
Kevin Lynch

Design of Cities
Edmund Bacon

The New Science of Cities
Michael Batty

Sustainability and transition

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Videos, optional reading material and guidelines will be provided via the eCampus platform. 

3 optional evenings will be dedicated to this SPOC (meetings with certain speakers and discussions around the themes of this part of the course). The dates are 20/11, 28/11 and 9/12.

Theory

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Written work / report


Additional information:

Evaluation based on a written exam for theory and report for the practical assigment

Sustainability and transition

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- Remote

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )

Continuous assessment


Further information:

Online testing must be completed by 15 December 2024 and second session by 1 September 2025. This part of the course accounts for 10% of the final mark. 

Sustainability and transition

None 

Sustainability and transition

None 

Theory

Contact details: Jacques Teller, Professor, office 0/444, telephone 04 366 94 99, Jacques.Teller@uliege.be

I am available, on appointment, on Monday morning. You can contact me by email for any questions relating to the course.

Assistant: Mathilde Flas.

Sustainability and transition

Prof. Sybille Mertens and Florianne Fassotte/Elise Pirenne (durabilite.transition@uliege.be)

Sustainability and transition

There is no MOOC associated with this course.


Further information:

None