Topological patterns in street networks of self-organized urban settlements

Many urban settlements result from a spatially distributed, decentralized building process. Here we analyze the topological patterns of organization of a large collection of such settlements using the approach of complex networks. The global efficiency (based on the inverse of shortest-path lengths), robustness to disconnections and cost (in terms of length) of these graphs is studied and their possible origins analyzed. A wide range of patterns is found, from tree-like settlements (highly vulnerable to random failures) to meshed urban patterns. The latter are shown to be more robust and efficient.     

Flow dimension and capacity for structuring urban street networks

This paper aims to measure the efficiency of urban street networks (a kind of complex networks) from the perspective of the multidimensional chain of connectivity (or flow). More specifically, we define two quantities: flow dimension and flow capacity, to characterize structures of urban street networks. To our surprise, for the topologies of urban street networks, previously confirmed as a form of small world and scale-free networks, we find that (1) the range of their flow dimensions is rather wider than their random and regular counterparts, (2) their flow dimension shows a power-law distribution, and (3) they have a higher flow capacity than their random and regular counterparts. The findings confirm that (1) both the wider range of flow dimensions and the higher flow capacity can be a signature of small world networks, and (2) the flow capacity can be an alternative quantity for measuring the efficiency of networks or that of the individual nodes. The findings are illustrated using three urban street networks (two in Europe and one in the USA).     

A topological pattern of urban street networks: Universality and peculiarity

In this paper, we derive a topological pattern of urban street networks using a large sample (the largest so far to the best of our knowledge) of 40 US cities and a few more from elsewhere of different sizes. It is found that all the topologies of urban street networks based on street-street intersection demonstrate a small world structure, and a scale-free property for both street length and connectivity degree. More specifically, for any street network, about 80% of its streets have length or degrees less than its average value, while 20% of streets have length or degrees greater than the average. Out of the 20%, there are less than 1% of streets which can form a backbone of the street network. Based on the finding, we conjecture that the 20% streets account for 80% of traffic flow, and the 1% streets constitute a cognitive map of the urban street network. We illustrate further a peculiarity about the scale-free property.     

Modeling spatial patterns in Dictyostelium

The life cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum provides a striking example of the transition from single cell behavior to multicellular cooperativity. In this paper the status of the attempts at making semiquantitative models of the aggregation phase of this cycle is reviewed. Specifically, it is discussed how the propagation of cAMP waves is a typical example of excitable signaling, which is then rendered unstable by coupling to cell chemotaxis. To investigate the streaming pattern that emerges from this clumping instability, we next turn to a new simulation strategy, which couples dynamical cell-like entities ("bions") to continuum chemical concentration fields. Finally, we discuss two directions for further research: One is the study of the robustness with respect to the variation of system parameters (such as the cell density) exhibited by the biological system, but not by any simple model. The other concerns going beyond the aggregation phase to tackle the three-dimensional problem of slug formation and motion.     

Modeling of spatiotemporal patterns in bacterial colonies

A diffusion-reaction model for the growth of bacterial colonies is presented. The often observed cooperative behavior developed by bacteria which increases their motility in adverse growth conditions is here introduced as a nonlinear diffusion term. The presence of this mechanism depends on a response which can present hysteresis. By changing only the concentrations of agar and initial nutrient, numerical integration of the proposed model reproduces the different patterns shown by Bacillus subtilis OG-01.     

Intra-urban human mobility patterns: An urban morphology perspective

This paper provides a new perspective on human motion with an investigation of whether and how patterns of human mobility inside cities are affected by two urban morphological characteristics: compactness and size. Mobile phone data have been collected in eight cities in Northeast China and used to extract individuals’ movement trajectories. The massive mobile phone data provides a wide coverage and detailed depiction of individuals’ movement in space and time. Considering that most individuals’ movement is limited within particular urban areas, boundaries of urban agglomerations are demarcated based on the spatial distribution of mobile phone base towers. Results indicate that the distribution of human’s intra-urban travel in general follows the exponential law. The exponents, however, vary from city to city and indicate the impact of city sizes and shapes. Individuals living in large or less compact cities generally need to travel farther on a daily basis, and vice versa. A Monte Carlo simulation analysis based on Levy flight is conducted to further examine and validate the relation between intra-urban human mobility and urban morphology.     

Modeling and analysis of the radio wave depolarization in urban environments

Depolarization is herein investigated for urban radio propagation. First, a theoretical study on some fundamental depolarizing mechanisms along one path, involving single and double reflection as well as wedge diffraction, is presented. Significant parameters impacting on XPR (cross polarization ratio) as the oblique incidence angle on walls or streets orientation with regards to the transmitter–receiver axis are studied thanks to simple theoretical models.XPR is also analyzed using deterministic propagation simulations in a realistic typical urban environment. The conclusions drawn in the theoretical study for single phenomena are also observed at the scale of several streets combining several paths: XPR decreases in proportion to these parameters change. These observations have been confirmed by polarimetric measurements conducted in Tokyo which are given in the last part.     

Sound propagation in a street

The propagation of sound in a street has previously been treated almost exclusively by the use of ray-tracing techniques. As a result, the effects of scattering from objects and protrusions in the street have not been taken adequately into account. In this paper, the sound field is analysed in terms of its propagating modes. The use of this technique allows the effect of scattering to be calculated, assuming a rather simplified model of a scattering surface. Although a number of important assumptions are made, the predicted attenuations at points down a street are in good agreement with results obtained from model studies. These attenuation curves are also similar in form to ihose obtained in full-scale tests.     

城市快速路系统的元胞自动机模型与分析

使用元胞自动机模型研究包含出入匝、主路和辅路的城市快速路系统的交通问题,为不同类型的路段定义了三种不同的换道规则.模拟结果表明,高入匝流量容易导致主路、匝道及其上游出现拥堵,高出匝流量容易使匝道出口车流与辅路内侧道车流发生冲突.入匝流量比较高时,主辅路为双车道的系统可以延缓交通拥堵和减少通行时间;当入匝流量较低时,双车道改善了单车道下辅路的通行状况. 关键词： 交通流 元胞自动机 换道规则 匝道     

Random planar graphs and the London street network

In this paper we analyse the street network of London both in its primary and dual representation. To understand its properties, we consider three idealised models based on a grid, a static random planar graph and a growing random planar graph. Comparing the models and the street network, we find that the streets of London form a self-organising system whose growth is characterised by a strict interaction between the metrical and informational space. In particular, a principle of least effort appears to create a balance between the physical and the mental effort required to navigate the city.     

Experimental study of sound propagation in a street

This paper presents an experimental study of the sound propagation in a street, performed during July 2002, in order to measure impulse responses at numerous locations in a street canyon, and, for several positions of the sound source. A specific attention has been paid on the processing of the experimental data, in order to obtain accurate values of the reverberation time and the steady-state sound pressure level, including also the compensation of the atmospheric attenuation. In total, 11 592 useful data have been collected during this experiment, and are available by contacting the corresponding author. Reverberation times and sound levels, in the narrow street, are then analyzed and compared, for the 4 source positions in the street. This experimental study gives interesting results on the behavior of the sound field in the street.     

The propagation of sound in narrow street canyons

This paper addresses an important problem of predicting sound propagation in narrow street canyons with width less than 10 m, which are commonly found in a built-up urban district. Major noise sources are, for example, air conditioners installed on building facades and powered mechanical equipment for repair and construction work. Interference effects due to multiple reflections from building facades and ground surfaces are important contributions in these complex environments. Although the studies of sound transmission in urban areas can be traced back to as early as the 1960s, the resulting mathematical and numerical models are still unable to predict sound fields accurately in city streets. This is understandable because sound propagation in city streets involves many intriguing phenomena such as reflections and scattering at the building facades, diffusion effects due to recessions and protrusions of building surfaces, geometric spreading, and atmospheric absorption. This paper describes the development of a numerical model for the prediction of sound fields in city streets. To simplify the problem, a typical city street is represented by two parallel reflecting walls and a flat impedance ground. The numerical model is based on a simple ray theory that takes account of multiple reflections from the building facades. The sound fields due to the point source and its images are summed coherently such that mutual interference effects between contributing rays can be included in the analysis. Indoor experiments are conducted in an anechoic chamber. Experimental data are compared with theoretical predictions to establish the validity and usefulness of this simple model. Outdoor experimental measurements have also been conducted to further validate the model.     

组合式发光二极管路灯反射器的设计

设计了一组合式路灯反射器,以使发光二极管（LED）路灯在道路照明时产生矩形光斑和均匀照度。在非成像光学基础上,利用复合抛物面的高性能集光作用和机械设计软件的强大作图功能,设计了一款分段组合复合抛物面反射器（CPC）。基于“边缘光线原理”和”裁剪法”,此款反射器能将朗伯型发光的LED光束整形为近似矩形分布,出光效率达96％以上。理论模拟证明：在高度为10m,范围为10m×30m内利用此反射器进行二次配光的LED路灯的照度均匀度达0．5以上。该反射式LED路灯光束整形器结构简单,光学效率高、成本低廉,模拟结果完全达到了目前我国国家道路照明规范要求。     

新型大功率LED路灯设计与分析

随着大功率LED光源性能的不断提高,大功率LED路灯已经得到了广泛的应用。针对大功率LED路灯设计,提出适用于多芯片的新型二次光学系统,实现光学透镜模组化设计。利用微槽群阵列技术进行模组散热器设计,提高LED路灯的散热效率。通过测试配光曲线和温度等参数,分析LED路灯的性能。     

90W太阳能LED路灯的设计及优化

针对LED在灯具配光、散热等方面达不到实用要求,无法真正体现出经济节能的问题,参照已有太阳能LED路灯产品,根据相关国家标准和行业标准,确定90 W太阳能LED路灯系统的技术指标和性能要求,在此基础上进行初步设计。对系统中的主要部件进行设计论证和选型,得出一个可行的设计方案,通过MATLAB软件对LED的照度分布和灯具的配光进行仿真,并就配光和散热这两个方面对系统进行优化,使其符合道路照明要求。     

Sound scattering by a Karman street consisting of large-scale vortices

The scattering of acoustic waves by a vortex street formed behind a cylinder in an air flow is studied both theoretically and experimentally for the case of the sound wavelength being much less than the vortex size. The theoretical calculations show that, at flow velocities well below the sound velocity, the vortex street can be considered as a moving phase screen. The spectrum of scattered sound in the far zone is shown to consist of harmonics whose frequencies differ by a multiple of the vortex rate. The computational results agree well with the experimental data obtained for the diffraction of ultrasound of the wavelength λ=3 mm by the Karman street formed behind a circular cylinder with an 8 mm diameter at a flow velocity of 7 m/s.     

基于CPV技术的LED路灯聚光器的研究

以120W大功率LED路灯太阳能电池板为研究对象,通过聚光光伏技术,利用光学透镜(聚光器)提高太阳能电池的光电转换效率。利用聚焦作用增大光照密度,有效地降低了太阳能光照面积,极大地减少了光电材料的使用量,大幅度降低了太阳能电池的成本。通过光学仿真软件TracePro进行仿真,验证了其可行性。