IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/envira/v38y2006i4p677-692.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Complexity Theory in the Study of Space and Place

Author

Listed:
  • Steven Manson

    (Department of Geography, University of Minnesota, 414 Social Sciences Building, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

  • David O'Sullivan

    (School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand)

Abstract

Researchers across disciplines apply complexity theory to issues ranging from economic development to earthquake prediction. The breadth of applications speaks to the promise of complexity theory, but there remain a number of challenges to be met, particularly those related to its ontological and epistemological dimensions. We identify a number of key issues by asking three questions. Does complexity theory operate at too general a level to enhance understanding? What are the ontological and epistemological implications of complexity? What are the challenges in modeling complexity? In answering these questions, we argue that, although complexity offers much to the study of place and space, research in these areas has a number of strengths that enhance complexity research.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven Manson & David O'Sullivan, 2006. "Complexity Theory in the Study of Space and Place," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 38(4), pages 677-692, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:38:y:2006:i:4:p:677-692
    DOI: 10.1068/a37100
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1068/a37100
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1068/a37100?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. R White & G Engelen, 1993. "Cellular Automata and Fractal Urban Form: A Cellular Modelling Approach to the Evolution of Urban Land-Use Patterns," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 25(8), pages 1175-1199, August.
    2. Tesfatsion, Leigh, 2001. "Introduction to the special issue on agent-based computational economics," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 25(3-4), pages 281-293, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wallentin, Gudrun, 2017. "Spatial simulation: A spatial perspective on individual-based ecology—a review," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 350(C), pages 30-41.
    2. Marco Maretto & Barbara Gherri & Daniela Maiullari & Chiara Vernizzi & Greta Pitanti & Chiara Finizza & Alice Monacelli, 2023. "Environmental Urban Morphology: A Multidisciplinary Methodology for the Analysis of Public Spaces in Dense Urban Fabrics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-18, December.
    3. He, Zheng & Rayman-Bacchus, Lez & Wu, Yiming, 2011. "Self-organization of industrial clustering in a transition economy: A proposed framework and case study evidence from China," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(9), pages 1280-1294.
    4. Scott G Ortman & José Lobo & Michael E Smith, 2020. "Cities: Complexity, theory and history," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-24, December.
    5. An, Li, 2012. "Modeling human decisions in coupled human and natural systems: Review of agent-based models," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 25-36.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Galbiati, Marco & Soramäki, Kimmo, 2011. "An agent-based model of payment systems," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 859-875, June.
    2. Kwok Hung Lau & Booi Hon Kam, 2005. "A Cellular Automata Model for Urban Land-Use Simulation," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 32(2), pages 247-263, April.
    3. Brorsen B. Wade & Fain James R. & Maples Joshua G., 2018. "Alternative Policy Responses to Increased Use of Formula Pricing," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, January.
    4. José I Barredo & Luca Demicheli & Carlo Lavalle & Marjo Kasanko & Niall McCormick, 2004. "Modelling Future Urban Scenarios in Developing Countries: An Application Case Study in Lagos, Nigeria," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 31(1), pages 65-84, February.
    5. Caruso, Geoffrey & Peeters, Dominique & Cavailhes, Jean & Rounsevell, Mark, 2007. "Spatial configurations in a periurban city. A cellular automata-based microeconomic model," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 542-567, September.
    6. McArthur, David Philip & Thorsen, Inge & Ubøe, Jan, 2009. "Congested Interregional Infrastructure, Road Pricing and Regional Labour Markets," Discussion Papers 2009/3, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
    7. Christopher Boyer & B. Brorsen, 2014. "Implications of a Reserve Price in an Agent-Based Common-Value Auction," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 43(1), pages 33-51, January.
    8. Anthony Patt & Bernd Siebenhüner, 2005. "Agent Based Modeling and Adaption to Climate Change," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 74(2), pages 310-320.
    9. Egan, Malcolm & Jakob, Michal, 2016. "Market mechanism design for profitable on-demand transport services," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 178-195.
    10. Rodolphe Buda, 2007. "Propositions for the Building of a Quantitative Austrian Modelling: An Answer to Prof. Rizzo and to Prof. Vriend," Working Papers hal-04139234, HAL.
    11. C J Webster & F Wu, 1999. "Regulation, Land-Use Mix, and Urban Performance. Part 1: Theory," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 31(8), pages 1433-1442, August.
    12. Michel Opelele Omeno & Ying Yu & Wenyi Fan & Tolerant Lubalega & Chen Chen & Claude Kachaka Sudi Kaiko, 2021. "Analysis of the Impact of Land-Use/Land-Cover Change on Land-Surface Temperature in the Villages within the Luki Biosphere Reserve," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-23, October.
    13. M Batty & Y Xie, 1994. "From Cells to Cities," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 21(7), pages 31-48, December.
    14. repec:rre:publsh:v:33:y:2003:i:3:p:264-83 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Stephen M McCauley & John Rogan & James T Murphy & Billie L Turner & Samuel Ratick, 2015. "Modeling the Sociospatial Constraints on Land-Use Change: The Case of Periurban Sprawl in the Greater Boston Region," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 42(2), pages 221-241, April.
    16. Ad. J. W. van de Gevel & Charles N. Noussair, 2013. "The Nexus between Artificial Intelligence and Economics," SpringerBriefs in Economics, Springer, edition 127, number 978-3-642-33648-5, June.
    17. Liu, Dongya & Zheng, Xinqi & Zhang, Chunxiao & Wang, Hongbin, 2017. "A new temporal–spatial dynamics method of simulating land-use change," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 350(C), pages 1-10.
    18. Ricardo Ruiz & Bernardo Alves Furtado, 2007. "An Agent Based Model for Urban Structure: the case of Belo Horizonte - Brazil," EcoMod2007 23900079, EcoMod.
    19. Nerea Martín-Raya & Jaime Díaz-Pacheco & Abel López-Díez & Pedro Dorta Antequera & Amílcar Cabrera, 2023. "A lava flow simulation experience oriented to disaster risk reduction, early warning systems and response during the 2021 volcanic eruption in Cumbre Vieja, La Palma," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 117(3), pages 3331-3351, July.
    20. Parker, Dawn Cassandra, 2007. "Revealing "space" in spatial externalities: Edge-effect externalities and spatial incentives," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 84-99, July.
    21. Eda Ustaoglu & Brendan Williams & Laura O. Petrov & Harutyun Shahumyan & Hedwig Van Delden, 2017. "Developing and Assessing Alternative Land-Use Scenarios from the MOLAND Model: A Scenario-Based Impact Analysis Approach for the Evaluation of Rapid Rail Provisions and Urban Development in the Greate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-34, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:38:y:2006:i:4:p:677-692. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.