Characterisation and comparison of spatial patterns in urban systems: A case study of U.S. cities

Hoai Nguyen Huynh, Evgeny Makarov, Erika Fille T. Legara, Christopher P. Monterola, Lock Yue Chew

Abstract: Highlights•A method to analyse pattern of distribution of spatial points is proposed based on the idea of percolation cluster in statistical physics.•Using the method, four different types of spatial distribution of transport points (bus stops) in different cities in the U.S. could be characterised.•The characterisation of spatial patterns of transport points provides quantitative evidence for two different types of urban systems: well-planned and organically grown.•A universal pattern of distribution of amenities is found for these U.S. cities together with addition European ones.•A nontrivial scaling relation between the density of transport points of a city and its characteristic distance among the points is reported.