Author(s)

J. Diaz Tejada

Abstract

A city is an open system so equilibrium can not be reached as time evolution shows us a hierarchical organization within a city’s systems and activities [1]. Through my analysis, I will show that there is no entropy for the development of the transportation system in Lima, but an underlying logic which clearly encompasses retail activities. Although the current urban sprawl has in general overcome the functionality of the transportation system in terms of travel time, the activities tend to be reorganised in order to reduce travel time, especially in the city centre area of Lima. Keywords: entropy, urban transport, retail, urban sprawl, city centre. 1 Introduction At the beginning of the twenty-first century we must be wondering what the future will bring if the current urban sprawl trend, along with population growth continues indefinitely. In cities like Lima-Peru, where about 80% of the population travels using the public transportation system, new technologies should be developed in order to overcome traffic in terms of travel time, but as budgets are very limited in developing countries in general, we ought to look for new strategies. I will show a process taking place specifically in the city-centre area of Lima, which focuses in shortening travel time through pedestrian paths instead of motorized roads. This process might make us think about how we can retrieve an original condition of the city, not only in terms of its functionality but in a broader sense pursuing a friendlier environment, pic. 1.

Keywords

entropy, urban transport, retail, urban sprawl, city centre.