The course focuses on the themes of quantitative and qualitative urban and territorial analysis, illustrated through morphological and configurational theories, methods and techniques.
The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the topics of quantitative and qualitative analysis of the city and the territory.
Through the illustration, discussion and application of morphological and configurational theories and methods, students will acquire analytical and critical skills on the form and structure of cities and territories, with the acquisition of technical skills (including IT) that will allow them to critically interpret both contemporary and past urban landscapes.
Basic knowledge of mathematics and calculus is required.
The educational path will be divided into three ways:
1. Lectures by the teacher
2. Illustration of concrete application cases of spatial, morphological and configurational analysis techniques
3. Active participation of students (possibly divided into working groups) with practical exercises
Students who have a valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the teacher and with the Department of Architecture and Design's disability referent (https://architettura.unige.it/commissioni_e_referenti_dipartimento)
The course concerns, first of all, an introduction to the science of complexity and a critical examination of how this can help in the analysis of urbanization processes (both contemporary and those of the city of the past). Some complexity science tools will be the specific subject of this module: fractals, network analysis, scaling and power laws, evolution / evolutions, self-organization, space syntax. Notes will be provided on some artificial intelligence methods applied to the analysis of the territory (neural networks, cellular automata, multi-agent systems).
Basic text:
Lombardini G. (2023), L’habitat urbano. Temi e questioni per una scienza dell’insediamento, Roma: Carocci.
In-depth:
Bettencourt Luis M.A., 2021, Introduction to Urban Science, Cambridge (MA): MIT Press (capitoli selezionati)
Batty M., 2018, Inventing Future Cities. Cambridge (MA): MIT Press (capitoli selezionati)
General
West G., 2018. Scala, Milano: Mondadori.
Ricevimento: Monday from 14.30 to 18.30 by email appointment.
Febraury 2026
Public discussion of the results of the exercises and critical readings of the texts indicated by the teacher.
The evaluation of the skills acquired by the students will take place through the following criteria:
Language
Ability to critically reflect on the topics discussed during the lessons and on the models and tools used
Quality of the processing performed
