New Software Can Distinguish a City's DNA

Jacob Aron reports on the promising new software developed by an international group of researchers that can recognize "what makes Paris look like Paris."

1 minute read

June 10, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and INRIA in Paris have written software that can recognize the unique architectural features that can distinguish one city from another. 

According to Aron, "The researchers selected 12 cities from across the globe and analysed
10,000 Google Street View images from each. Their algorithm searches
for visual features that appear often in one location but infrequently
elsewhere...It turns out that ornate windows and balconies, along with unique blue-and-green street signs,
characterise Paris, while columned doorways, Victorian windows and
cast-iron railings mark London out from the rest. In the US, long
staircases and bay windows mean San Francisco, and gas-powered street
lamps are scattered throughout Boston."

According to the researchers, "The discovered visual elements can also support a variety of
computational geography tasks, such as mapping architectural
correspondences and influences within and across cities, finding
representative elements at different geo-spatial scales, and
geographically-informed image retrieval."

The team will present their work
at the SIGGRAPH graphics conference in Los Angeles in August.

 

 

Friday, June 8, 2012 in New Scientist

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.