Complex mapping of the urban landscape: new methods and complex maps

The contemporary city is a place of complexity and contradiction, of instability and dispersion (Bauman, 2000; Secchi, 2000). Indeed, as it appears nowadays the territory, it is extremely difficult to interpret and represent it through traditional analytical methods and cartography. The condition of nomadism in which we live stems not only from evolutionary changes but also from continuous rapid change in cultural environments, consumption sites and scientific, technical, economic and mental landscapes (Koolhaas et al., 2001; Landrove, 1997). Researchers have therefore imported from other disciplines ways to see, research, explain and represent the city and the natural, mental, virtual places in which we live, constructing proper methods of transversal, multilevel decodification and analysis. In order to give suitable terms and explain such new sites, several academics have tested maps, words and multimedia images, hypertext, software, able to render this complexity and to permit readability, which have created in most cases new interpretations of urban features (Gausa et al., 2003). Starting from such premises, the aim of this work is to investigate new methods and tools to analyse the urban area and landscape as well as identify new elements of contemporary urban identity which may lead to cultural change. Four main categories of approach, the virtual, multiscale, lateral and nomadic, were identified, involving mapping (Careri, 2002; Boeri, 2003; Mitchell, 1996; MVRDV, 2002). These categories of approch are not separate entities but intersect at several points, through which the main elements characterising contemporary urban identity can be identified. The new urban facts of the territory are the networks, the empty spaces and infrastructures, the new containers (urban attractors/shopping centres/malls) and the urban perceptions. They are not easily identifiable neither can be represented through a traditional planimetric relief; however, they have an extraordinary ability of penetration into the different parts of the city. A subsequent investigation should aim to compare the various methodological approaches, to find other elements and try to construct the scenes of transformation of the future metropolis focusing on the different conceptual and disciplinary implications.