Big Models: From Beijing to the whole China

This chapter proposes the concept of big model as a novel research paradigm for regional analysis and urban studies. Big models are fine-scale regional/urban analysis/simulation models for a large geographical area. With the widespread use of big/open data, the increased computation capacity, as well as the advanced regional and urban analyzing/modeling methodologies, big models make it possible to overcome the trade-off between geographical scale and simulation resolution. In this chapter, the concept, characteristics, and potential applications of big models have been elaborated. We presented several case studies to illustrate the progress of our research and the application of big models. They include mapping urban areas for all Chinese cities, performing parcel-level urban simulation, and several ongoing research projects. Most of these applications can be adopted across the whole country, and all of them are focusing on a fine-scale level, such as a parcel, a block, or a township (sub-district). It is expected that big models will mark a promising new era for the urban analysis and regional studies in the era of big/open data.