Connotation and Method of Urban Space Development Research

This Chapter addresses the current challenges and perplexities within the urban planning discipline and professional practice, advocating for a shift in focus towards the spatial aspects of regional and urban settlements. It proposes the establishment of a new research framework—Urban Space Development Research. This approach constitutes the spatial ontology of the urban planning discipline, representing an interdisciplinary urban research centered around space. The chapter further outlines the concepts and methodologies of urban space development research. The inception of this concept stems from a critical reflection on past fragmented disciplinary research and isolated regional planning. Consequently, it advocates for a new spatial research methodology grounded in the “interaction theory”. While the traditional method of classifying different attributes of urban space for research yields singular problems and clear planning outcomes, the new research approach navigates complex issues with dynamic, nuanced results, which aligns more closely with reality.