Using FUTURES in GRASS for Modelling Urban Growth

Using FUTURES in GRASS for Modelling Urban Growth

Introduction

The aim of this tutorial is to demonstrate the use of FUTURES (Future Urban-Regional Environment Simulation) for urban spatial growth analysis. While most urban growth models are focused on cell-level conversions and object-based representation, FUTURES uses patch-based, stochastic, multi-level land change modelling framework to provide land development models. Using FUTURES to compute distance between Ottawa’s new transit system and Ottawa’s Business Improvement Areas (BIA) using the R command line. People want to be able to access the BIA and FUTURES can help to see if the new transit system is an accessible pathway to the BIA. FUTURES can be used to find locations where there are gaps between these two systems in order to place connections within Ottawa. Places where they lack connection, using FUTURES to find locations with development potential.