Information and communication technology and the spatial evolution of mature cities

The great urbanization project that started some 10,000 years ago is approaching its final stages. We focus on the spatial evolution of mature cities and on the possibility that information and communication technology will contribute to a phase transition and a start of a new urban life cycle. In a context of agent-based model that includes heterogeneous land developers, housing consumers and planning agencies, we speculate about conditions that may change cities as we know them. In particular, we propose a scenario in which the prevalent central city oriented metropolitan areas will be replaced by a multitude of sprawling cities.