The Lowry model of land use simulation and its derivatives

The Lowry family of urban land use simulation models is one of the most widely used, both as an aid in scientific investigation, and as a tool for making predictions concerning growth and change in the distribution and intensity of land use activities. This paper outlines the theoretical work and modelling experience which led to the development of the Lowry family of land use simulation models and sketches the main features of its logical structure. The paper commences with a discussion of procedural relationships between modelling and planning, focusing upon difficulties which are frequently encountered when predictive models are to be designed for planning purposes. Next, the paper describes the conceptual foundations of the gravity and entropy-maximizing models of spatial interaction, followed by an explanation of how the gravity idea was applied in the Lowry model of urban land use and its successors. Finally, the last section of the paper is devoted to ITLUP, in which Lowry-type land use models embodying entropy-maximizing trip functions are linked with a transportation network simulation model.