Stan Openshaw's PhD Web Page

Introduction

• Stan submitted a PhD thesis entitled "Processes in Urban Morphology with special Reference to South Shields" to Newcastle University in December 1973 and graduated with a doctorate in 1974.
• This page about Stan's PhD is being developed with his permission with the aim of curating his good work.
• The thesis is archived at the British Library as microfilm no. : D10191/74.
• The thesis was compiled over several years (and for at least the latter part) whilst Stan worked in the Planning Department at Durham County Council.
• Contents
  • Abstract

Abstract

• (Stan wrote this himself back in the old days of type writers. The original is kept with his copy of the thesis.)

There are two reasons for this research. Firstly, to develop the theoretical and methodological ground-work which is necessary in order to bring the study of urban morphology into line with the other fields of urban geography. Secondly, to provide a morphological study of a townscape dating from the Industrial Revolution as a complement to the former emphasis on towns of medieval origin.

The thesis is organised into four parts.

Part One covers the development of a theoretical framework for the integrated study of urban characteristics and discusses its application to the historical development of South shields.

Part Two is concerned with the quantitative study of selected town plan characteristics within South Shields. The application of multivariate statistical techniques makes it possible to provide detailed study of the spatial nature of several samples of house plans with reference to plot and building block plan shapes, internal floorspace provision, and three dimensional characteristics. Attempts are made to relate these major features to the formative processes responsible.

Part Three is a study of the pattern of building types and is concerned with spatial processes. Particular emphasis is given to developing a computer based methodology in the context of a comprehensive morphological survey of residential buildings.

Part Four summarises the possible implications of this research. It recognises the need to establish regional data bases so that comparative morphological studies may be possible. It is also suggested that the wider application of the methodology used for this research, together with further developments in statistical techniques, seem likely to revolutionise the study of urban morphology within the next decade.