Critical Thinking about Urban Studies Linked with Thermodynamic Terms

Abstract

The interaction of urban science with psychology, biology, ecology, and technology creates a rich diversity. Thermodynamics and information theory are among the methods of analysis used to understand urban systems. These methods have a variety of options, and their decision-making processes are complex. Definitions related to the concept of city vary depending on the approach of social science disciplines such as urban science, sociology, geography, economy and public administration. Geographic Information System (GIS) enables the creation of interactive maps of the urban system's transformation processes. Thus, city maps have gained qualifications for the examination of the possible changes and future scenarios. The relationship between city and thermodynamics has been developed with implementations such as energy, sustainability, system approach, spatial analysis, aesthetic evaluation methodologies, urban growth, and urban models. The thermodynamic interpretation of implementations provides concrete data such as heat map of the cities, and energy potential. The interpretation of entropy at the intersection of thermodynamics and information theory gives different perspectives to the concepts such as coding, redefining aesthetics and urban growth. The studies which relates urban issues and entropy concept are very different in approach and content from each other. This situation has also created a ground for meaning shifts. The aim of this study is to critically discuss the methods, concepts, and theories of urban studies related to the thermodynamic terms. As a method, the studies on the approaches of the concepts of thermodynamics in urban planning and urban design will be evaluated with a literature review. © 2019 IOP Publishing Ltd.