As part of my Master of Research coursework I have been developing a function in R named ‘spot-the-difference’ to support quantitative research in urban planning. This particularly supports the analysis of multivariate phenomenon (such as gentrification, segregation, migration) over time which are well-covered in urban planning literature, but their narratives often fall short in the incorporation of modern GIS technology in their analyses.
R is an open-source programming language and environment that enables statistical computing and the creation of graphics supported by a wide range of geospatial packages.
Early stages of the development of this function led me to discover some great maps already about the similar topic:
‘Gentrification Map’ produced by Savills, using an unknown weighting on social classification data. Source: Economist
An Urban Renaissance Achieved? Mapping a Decade of Densification in UK Cities by Duncan Smith
My own analysis of gentrification in London will combine change in the professional class, social housing stock and housing prices as a weighted index. Below is a sample from the function which is still under development – showing change in upper professional managerial class. Data Source: NS-SeC UK Census 2001 and 2011
So, what do you think ?