LUTI operational models review based on the proposition of an a priori ALUTI conceptual model

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on understanding to what extent the components of LUTI models and their mutual interactions are conceptually represented by eight operational LUTI models. This is important for the understanding of LUTI models’ mechanisms, firstly because it may reduce communication barriers between planning communities, secondly because it may help us understand the models’ applicability, and thirdly it may highlight the models’ shortcomings and point for future research. We present a discussion about what subsystems should be considered for LUTI modelling, from which we derived an “a priori” conceptual ALUTI model (incorporating Activities, besides Land Use and Transport). By comparing the rationale behind each model with this conceptual model, we establish the basis for our review, focussing on whether these models incorporate the ALUTI components, its inner workings and the relationships between these components. Results indicate three main limitations of the reviewed models. First, models not always adequately include all the components of the a priori ALUTI model. Second, the ALUTI subsystems’ internal functions are not explicitly modelled in several of the models reviewed, making it difficult to evaluate how planning decisions affect the subsystem. Third, only few models recognise all mutual interactions, especially in respect to the Activity subsystem.

KEYWORDS:

• LUTI
• operational models
• activity
• land use
• transport
• ALUTI

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the three anonymous reviewers, as well as, Roger Mackett, Stephen Putman, David Simmonds, Francisco Martinez, and Michael Wegener, for their suggestions and help.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

André Soares Lopes http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5583-9255

Additional information

Funding

This work was conducted during a scholarship supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior Program - CAPES - Brazilian Federal Agency in cooperation with Delft University of Technology.