From points to patterns: An explorative POI network study on urban functional distribution

Xuhui Lin, Tao Yang, Stephen Law

Abstract: Highlights•Introduces a novel street-level approach integrating topic modelling and network analysis for urban functional area identification.•Constructs multi-layer POI-Topic networks to reveal semantic and spatial structures of urban functions at the street scale.•Identifies six distinct urban functional topics in London using LDA on street-level POI sequences, providing granular insights into urban fabric.•Reveals varying network characteristics across functional topics, reflecting diverse urban organizational logics at human-experience scale.•Demonstrates the effectiveness of network metrics in uncovering key POIs shaping street-level urban functional structures.•Offers a human-centric perspective on urban functionality, supporting evidence-based planning and policy-making.