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Circle cities: unravelling Europe's urban patterns

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About the map

Have you ever wondered what stories roads, paths, and waterways might tell? Sometimes they speak in rhythms of order, other times in striking chaos. These networks are far more than mere lines on a map. They narrate how cities evolve, transform, and adapt, shaped by the influence of both human and natural forces.

This ArcGIS StoryMap examines 10 European cities, combining 1km diameter snapshots of urban patterns with rose diagrams that depict road alignment for entire cities.

Why it works

This story blends cartographic clarity with functional insight. The 1km diameter snapshots highlight road hierarchies, pathways, and waterways, showcasing distinct urban patterns and features. Meanwhile, the rose diagrams analyse road lengths and alignments across 24 bearing directions for entire cities.

Together, they reveal how cities evolve, transform, and adapt. The maps uncover the influence of philosophy, ideology, natural growth, topography, and water features on urban spaces.

Important Steps

  • 1.

    Download OpenStreetMap road, path, and waterway data using Overpass Turbo. Load the data into ArcGIS Pro using the JSON to Features tool. 

  • 2.

    Generate city samples using the Clip tool to clip road, path, and waterway data to the study area.

  • 3.

    Choose a basemap and suitable symbology for the city samples by incorporating colour, width, and dash effects for the lines to narrate features, such as road hierarchies.

  • 4.

    Before creating a rose diagram a, use the Split Line At Vertices tool to divide the line data at each vertex. This ensures that curved roads are also included in the analysis.

  • 5.

    Use the Calculate Geometry Attributes tool to compute the azimuth (direction of each line) and length by selecting the Line Bearing and Length (Geodesic) properties respectively.

  • 6.

    Create rose diagrams using Python to customise intervals, filter invalid data, weigh bins by length, and refine colours and labels. 

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Requirements

  • Data and software

    The data for creating the city samples and rose diagrams is sourced from OpenStreetMap. It was obtained via an Overpass API query on Overpass Turbo, filtering specific highway types within a predefined boundary. This was then imported into ArcGIS Pro.

  • Analysis

    Rose diagrams analysed bidirectional road lengths across 24 bearing directions in city-wide datasets. To include curves, the road lines were split at vertices. Azimuth and geodesic length calculations then ensured accurate plotting of road lengths.

  • Time

    Creating a single map took a few  hours, depending on the accuracy of OpenStreetMap data and processing time.

    Developing the first map required 3–4 days to establish a workflow, including refining the workflow. Creating reusable code, significantly streamlined subsequent map creation.

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Tips and tricks

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    Use purposeful symbology and a contrasting basemap

    Use distinct colours to represent features clearly, and pair them with a subtle basemap that enhances their visibility and impact.

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    Layer and item organisation

    Name layers and saved items systematically to easily differentiate between multiple case studies and to maintain clarity in your workflow.

  • circle-cities-tip3

    Develop a systematic workflow

    Document each process step, save symbol styles, and standardise field naming to ensure consistency, and minimise the need for coding adjustments.

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Links & Resources

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Iskren (Naydenov) Dinev

Map Author

Iskren (Naydenov) Dinev (He / Him)

Iskren is a graduate GIS Consultant at Esri UK with a passion for Geography and map-making. When he's not immersed in geospatial projects, you can find him deep in a book, enjoying a long TV series, or exploring the wonders of nature.

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