RECOGNITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF URBAN SHAPES

This paper is concerned with a methodology that is able to recognize a nd classify geometric shapes, in particular urban shapes. The main obj ective of this study is to develop a shape index that will address Why te's category of ''spatial form'' (1968), that is, the external appear ance or outward form, in contrast with the ''internal form,'' which is the structural form. We first review methodologies of shape recogniti on and classification. Next, we propose a viable formulation for such an endeavor by drawing from the aforementioned methodologies, and we a im to overcome some of their limitations by formulating a new Index. W e will apply the resulting shape index to an illustrative case in orde r to recognize urban shapes.