The Venice problem: An approach by urban modelling

Abstract

Piasentin, U., Costa P. and Foot D. (1978) The Venice problem: an approach by urban modelling, Reg. Studies 12, 579–602. This paper looks at the problem of Venice and begins with an analysis of the problem over the last 20 years. It is not sufficient to look just at the Historical Centre, but rather one must consider the whole Venice Urban System. To analyse this urban structure, an urban modelling approach is used, namely the Garin-Lowry Model, and an attempt made to show how effective this type of model can be in analysing alternative planning policies. Only a brief description of the model is presented together with all the data for the region. At calibration a full analysis is made of the factors determining the attractors in the model. Then a series of simulations have been performed in order to study the effects of certain planning intervention policies on the area, looking at alternative transport policies, employment policies and residential policies. Conclusions have been drawn about the likely effectiveness of these policies.

Keywords:

• Venice Problem
• Centro Storico
• Urban structure
• Urban model
• Simulation
• Alternative planning policies
• Planning intervention