The concept of uncertainty has fostered in the last decade’s fundamental and applied research in different disciplinary fields. Couclelis (2003) clearly demonstrated the pervasiveness of uncertainty in the production process of geographical knowledge. The paper shares this epistemological point of view. Pragmatically, its goal is to show how questions of uncertainty arise in the praxis of geographic research. It suggests that scientific work can be enriched, and not hindered, by addressing uncertainty in knowledge. The paper discusses eight domains within the activity of the geographer, where questions of uncertainty arise: geographic information, geographic definitions, the explanation of geographic phenomena, the complexity of spatial systems, geosimulation, the representation of spatial knowledge, subjectivity in spatial phenomena, and planning. Within each domain uncertainty issues are identified as well as their possible interrelations.

Résumé Cet article propose une étude conjointe des mobilités résidentielles et de la concentration de populations sélectionnées au sein de l’espace régional de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, en s’interrogeant sur les relations entre le processus de métropolisation régionale et la ségrégation résidentielle. Les analyses, fondées sur les quotients de localisation et les flux dominants des mobilités résidentielles, font apparaître de fortes différences spatiales entre les schémas résidentiels des populations cible. La plus remarquable concerne les cadres et les chômeurs, qui s’évitent, produisant des configurations spatiales ségréguées. Les résultats soulignent également la complexité des configurations produites ainsi que la sensibilité aux particularités locales.

The Japanese city presents a certain number of peculiarities in the organization of its physical space (weak zoning regulations, fast piecemeal destruction/reconstruction of buildings and blocks, high compacity, incremental reorganization). Compared to countries where urban fabrics are more perennial and easily distinguishable (old centers, modern planned projects, residential areas, etc.), in Japanese metropolitan areas we often observe higher heterogeneity and more complex spatial patterns. Even within such a model, it should be possible to recognize the internal organization of the physical city. The aim of this paper is thus to study the spatial structure of the contemporary Japanese city, generalizing on the case study of Osaka and Kobe. In order to achieve this goal, we will need to identify urban forms at different local scales (building types, urban fabrics) and to analyze them at a wider scale to delineate morphological regions and their structuring of the overall layout of the contemporary Japanese city. Several analytical protocols are used together with field observations and literature. The results, and more particularly the building and urban fabric types and their location within the Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area, are interpreted in the light of Japanese history and model of urbanization. A synoptic graphical model of an urban morphological structure based upon Osaka is produced and proposed as an interpretative pattern for the Japanese metropolitan city in general.

Urban–rural differences seem particularly pronounced in India, especially when based on the official figures provided by the Census of India, which are heavily dependent on the administrative status of settlements. India, one of the world’s most dynamic and populous countries, still possesses an official urbanisation rate lagging well behind other developing economies. To investigate the extent of Indian urbanisation, this article develops a multi-step methodology using indicators specifically conceived for identifying urban structures in India. In this article, an emphasis is given to the conception and to the spatial analysis of two indicators: metropolitan ranking and meta-agglomerations. A method combining these indicators then allows identifying urban macro-structures acting as a larger organising framework in the regional space. Our results show a multitude of different functional areas that have developed specific urban morphologies over time. Some are particularly marked by high values of urban macrocephaly, small settlements taking the shape of nebulae, urban sprawl, etc.