# Big Models: From Beijing to the whole China

**Authors:** Ying Long, Kang Wu, Jianghao Wang, Zhenjiang Shen  
**arXiv:** [1406.6417](https://arxiv.org/abs/1406.6417)  
**Date:** 2014-06-24  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/1406.6417v1/

## Key points

- Big models as a groundbreaking research paradigm for regional and urban studies
- Fine-scale simulation models covering large geographical areas
- Overcoming the trade-off between simulated scale and spatial unit
- Leveraging big/open data, increased computation power, and advanced modeling methods
- Concept, characteristics, and potential applications of big models
- Case studies illustrating progress in research and utilization of big models (mapping urban areas for all Chinese cities, parcel-level urban simulations, ongoing research projects)
- Ability to be applied across an entire country while maintaining fine-scale analysis
- Detailed analysis at the parcel, block, or township level
- Potential to revolutionize understanding of regional dynamics and inform evidence-based decision-making in planning and development processes

## Summary

This paper introduces the concept of big models as a groundbreaking research paradigm for regional and urban studies. Big models are fine-scale simulation models that cover large geographical areas, allowing researchers to overcome the trade-off between simulated scale and spatial unit. This is made possible by leveraging emerging big/open data, increased computation power, and advanced regional/urban modeling methods. The authors elaborate on the concept, characteristics, and potential applications of big models. They provide several case studies to illustrate the progress in research and utilization of big models. These include mapping urban areas for all Chinese cities, conducting parcel-level urban simulations, and ongoing research projects. What sets big models apart from conventional models is their ability to be applied across an entire country while maintaining a fine-scale level of analysis. Conventional models often focus on specific cities or regions or sacrifice data resolution when covering larger areas. In contrast, big models allow for detailed analysis at the parcel, block, or township (sub-district) level. The authors anticipate that big models will usher in a promising new era for urban and regional studies in the age of big data. With their ability to handle vast amounts of data and provide fine-scale analysis over large geographical areas, big models have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of regional dynamics and inform evidence-based decision-making in planning and development processes.