Seeing the City: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Study of the Urban

Researchers study cities from various angles, including shape, people, animals, ecology, policy, infrastructure, buildings, history, art, and technical networks. This volume provides an essential collection of methodologies for studying the city from multiple, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary perspectives, with examples drawn from the author's research in Amsterdam. It aims to educate a new generation of urban scholars and practitioners.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 292 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2020
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press

The city is a multifaceted entity that captivates the attention of researchers who explore its diverse aspects. Some delve into its physical shape, while others focus on its inhabitants, animals, ecology, policies, infrastructures, buildings, history, art, or technical networks. Others examine processes such as inclusion, gentrification, or social mobility, while some explore biological evolution, traffic patterns, or spatial development. Many researchers combine these topics or extend their research to include even more diverse subjects. Some projects transcend the boundaries of traditional research and engage in action research, seeking to apply knowledge and generate practical outcomes. On the other hand, others pursue knowledge purely for the sake of curiosity.

This comprehensive volume embraces this wide range of perspectives and presents an essential compilation of methodologies for studying the city from multiple, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary angles. We begin by acknowledging that the complexity of the urban environment cannot be fully grasped from a single viewpoint. Therefore, we offer a diverse array of approaches to gather and analyze data about the city, providing means to connect and integrate these methods.

The contributors to this volume are a distinguished group of urban scholars and practitioners who are at the forefront of their respective fields. They offer practical methodological techniques and skills for data collection and analysis, accompanied by honest and insightful reflections from their experiences. Each methodology is illustrated with examples drawn from the authors' own research, showcasing their applications in the vibrant city of Amsterdam. By doing so, the volume not only provides a rich repository of Amsterdam-based research but also offers valuable insights that can inform local urban practitioners and policymakers.

In summary, this volume serves as an indispensable tool for and aims to educate a new generation of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary-minded urban scholars and practitioners. It offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the city and provides practical methodologies for exploring its various dimensions. By embracing this diversity of perspectives, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the urban landscape and work towards creating more sustainable, inclusive, and thriving cities for all.

Weight: 558g
Dimension: 170 x 239 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789463728942