WASHINGTON ¨C While a city is not a living organism, it behaves very much like one. Its metabolic processes may be manifested in growth spurts, metamorphosis over time and even decay. Researchers using satellite imagery have tracked the vital signs of six major global cities, detecting a distinctive ¡°urban pulse¡± in each.
The researchers looked at Dubai, Lagos, Mexico City, Mumbai, Seattle and Shenzhen using a new way to document dynamic changes unfolding in each ?of these cities in near real-time.
Historically, experts have relied upon aggregated and infrequent data to document urbanization, such as a yearly census, annual ?economic figures ?or a map showing how a city¡¯s footprint has changed over a decade ¡ª essentially using specific outcomes as metrics. But ?the scientists behind the new study said such an approach provides an incomplete understanding of a city and can miss the nuances as a metropolis evolves.
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