Urban ecosystems: a holistic approach to urban analysis and planning

In this paper holistic concepts of urban analysis and planning are introduced, based on the principles of ecology and the urban ecosystem. The urban behaviour matrix, which contains both behavioural and spatial information, is suggested as the conceptual framework for holistic urban study, and various relationships within and between urban ecosystems are discussed. A possible application of the ideas in the urban behaviour matrix to an urban ecosystem represented as an activity - commodity framework is discussed.