6.3.1.3 North America and Europe
Five cities from these regions were included in this analysis—a small number by
comparison. Because its climatic and topographical conditions were different from
those for regions with many high-density cities, each of these cities was comparatively low-density. They furthermore had high per capita GDP, which correlates with
complexity of urban area shape, and indeed all of these cities had urban areas with
comparatively complex shapes. While its population are not anticipated to experience rapid growth in the future, depending on the degree of their economic growth, it
is possible that its complexity will develop further. Compared to cities in other
regions, however, they are projected to change little from their current state.
6.3.1.4 Latin America
Because the urban areas of the cities in this region have high average topographical
gradients, they have higher population densities than the topographically more level
cities of North America and Europe. Because they have average rainfall, however,
and because they do not have a large extent of annual fluctuation in their monthly
rainfall, compared to cities in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the cities in this
region do not have high population densities. Finally, compared to cities in other
regions, these cities have the highest elevation diversity as a result of which their RPI
averages are also the lowest, meaning they are regarded as having urban areas with
intensive shapes.
6.3.2 Different Target Shapes for Each City
The cities exhibited great variation in both the RPI and the population density
indicators, and even if some cities had similar values, the environmental conditions
that regulated the two indicators sometimes differed. The cities in North America
and Europe did not have the environmental conditions that encourage the development of high densities, and they already had complex urban areas. On the other hand,
the cities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America had the climatic and
topographical conditions that do promote the development of high densities. The
cities in those regions, however, are currently experiencing population increase and
accelerating economic growth, and there is a strong possibility that the shape of
urban areas will become more complex from now on as a result. Taking into
consideration the particular trends for these individual regions, it is possible for
each of the cities to aim to become a compact city. For all of the cities analyzed,
6 Generation of Urban Morphologies Through Long-Term Evolution of. . .
121
Five cities from these regions were included in this analysis—a small number by
comparison. Because its climatic and topographical conditions were different from
those for regions with many high-density cities, each of these cities was comparatively low-density. They furthermore had high per capita GDP, which correlates with
complexity of urban area shape, and indeed all of these cities had urban areas with
comparatively complex shapes. While its population are not anticipated to experience rapid growth in the future, depending on the degree of their economic growth, it
is possible that its complexity will develop further. Compared to cities in other
regions, however, they are projected to change little from their current state.
6.3.1.4 Latin America
Because the urban areas of the cities in this region have high average topographical
gradients, they have higher population densities than the topographically more level
cities of North America and Europe. Because they have average rainfall, however,
and because they do not have a large extent of annual fluctuation in their monthly
rainfall, compared to cities in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the cities in this
region do not have high population densities. Finally, compared to cities in other
regions, these cities have the highest elevation diversity as a result of which their RPI
averages are also the lowest, meaning they are regarded as having urban areas with
intensive shapes.
6.3.2 Different Target Shapes for Each City
The cities exhibited great variation in both the RPI and the population density
indicators, and even if some cities had similar values, the environmental conditions
that regulated the two indicators sometimes differed. The cities in North America
and Europe did not have the environmental conditions that encourage the development of high densities, and they already had complex urban areas. On the other hand,
the cities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America had the climatic and
topographical conditions that do promote the development of high densities. The
cities in those regions, however, are currently experiencing population increase and
accelerating economic growth, and there is a strong possibility that the shape of
urban areas will become more complex from now on as a result. Taking into
consideration the particular trends for these individual regions, it is possible for
each of the cities to aim to become a compact city. For all of the cities analyzed,
6 Generation of Urban Morphologies Through Long-Term Evolution of. . .
121