This thesis examines an urban form analysis method called delayering. This method examines the
street network of a city. By plotting the streets in an electronic format and mapping information
based on the spatial properties of streets such as those running east west, and overlaying these with
other maps, delayering identifies patterns in the streets. This method was presented in a book titled
The Urban Text. In the book the findings of an analysis of the City of Chicago were presented to
outline the attributes of the delayering process. These include the ability to find patterns unseen in
traditional analysis methods, the ability to read neighbourhood boundaries from the street patterns,
and heighten awareness of elements through a unique graphic presentation method. These attributes
and claims of the delayering process made it intriguing as a potential tool for the planning profession.
Urban physical planning is based on a rational-comprehensive methodology where analysis is used
to inform scenario development and decision making. If delayering could add to the analysis phase
of planning it could become a useful tool to the profession. To identify this an assessment of the
process' strengths and weaknesses had to be made. To examine this question I reviewed
contemporary literature regarding the urban environment, the importance of the street, perception
of place, and presentation methods. This provided the background information that supported the
importance of the attributes of the delayering process. To test the strengths and weaknesses of the
process a case study use of it in the City of Vancouver was conducted. This tested the transferability
of the process, its accuracy, and the ease of use. Combining this information with the information
of the literature review an assessment of delayering was made. The overall findings were that the
process lacks single strength that would make it a useful tool. All of its attributes were somewhat
successful in their claims, however the combined process was not seen as superior to traditional
methods of analysis of form The unique methodology of the process, a reverse of the overlay design
process, and focus of the street were seen as the overall strengths. The recommendations for the use
of delayering is that it adds to the theoretical discussion of the planning profession, it can be helpful
in exploratory analysis exercises, and its methodology can be adapted to other types of urban form
mapping exercises.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/10523 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Voigt, Robert Joshua |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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