Overview

CityForm is a platform developed by the MIT City Form Lab for analyzing urban form and its performance. It includes a set of tools for quantifying spatial patterns, accessibility, and the configuration of street networks. It is often used in academic research and for advanced urban analytics to understand how the physical layout of cities affects social, economic, and environmental outcomes.

✨ Key Features

  • Urban Network Analysis
  • Accessibility Metrics (Reach, Gravity, etc.)
  • Spatial Distribution and Density Analysis
  • 3D Building and City Modeling
  • Integration with Rhino and Grasshopper
  • Open and extensible research platform

🎯 Key Differentiators

  • Developed at a leading research institution (MIT).
  • Focus on a wide range of urban form metrics beyond just network analysis.
  • Integration into popular design software like Rhino/Grasshopper.

Unique Value: Provides a robust, scientific basis for understanding and designing cities by offering a set of tools to quantify the physical characteristics of urban form and link them to performance outcomes.

🎯 Use Cases (5)

Academic research in urban morphology Advanced spatial analysis of cities Walkability and street network connectivity studies Evidence-based urban design Comparing urban forms across different cities

✅ Best For

  • Analyzing the street network centrality of different locations in a city to predict retail success.
  • Measuring pedestrian accessibility to public transit and parks.
  • Quantifying the relationship between urban form and energy consumption.

💡 Check With Vendor

Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:

  • General purpose urban planning for cities
  • Real estate development feasibility
  • Collaborative stakeholder engagement

🏆 Alternatives

Space Syntax DepthmapX Urban Network Analysis Tool for Rhino

Offers a broader and more integrated set of urban morphological analysis tools compared to software that focuses only on one aspect, like Space Syntax's focus on network analysis.

💻 Platforms

Desktop (as plugins for other software)

✅ Offline Mode Available

🔌 Integrations

Rhino/Grasshopper GIS data formats

💰 Pricing

Contact for pricing
Free Tier Available

Free tier: Many tools are open source or available for academic use.

Visit CityForm Website →