Information and communications technologies and urban environment: Empirical analysis of the Washington, DC metropolitan region

With recent advances in information and communications technologies (ICT), new activities associated with the use of ICT are becoming apparent in urban environment. The sporadic evidence, however, points to a limited understanding of the diffusion of ICT in urban environment. Urban scholars and professionals must be aware of the current ICT phenomena in order to devise strategies and tools for management of the changing urban form. Toward that end, the objectives of this research are to; (1) empirically explore the spatial implications of ICT, (2) examine the relationship between ICT and urban form, and (3) contribute to better understanding of urban planning responses to ICT.;This dissertation is written as a set of three papers. In the first paper, the literature review points to insufficient attention to ICT, in spite of increasing opportunities that ICT present for urban and economic development and evident impact of ICT on urban form. It suggests a complementary role of physical planning and economic development policies in managing and capitalizing on ICT.;The second and third papers include empirical analyses of ICT in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. The second paper attempts to explore the spatial and planning implications of ICT by examining the spatial distribution of ICT infrastructure and activity in the metropolitan region. The empirical results identified an ICT cluster, considered as a driving force for the local economy. They eventually contribute to regional economy, although the concentrated nature of ICT infrastructure and activity may further stimulate urban sprawl and polycentricity in the region.;The third paper explores the relationship between urban form and ICT in an intrametropolitan context. In spite of the expected centrifugal (i.e., decentralization) forces of ICT on urban form, the findings of the regression analyses suggest that ICT function as a centripetal force, and provide evidence of the interdependence between ICT and urban form. The findings also point out that geographic location still matters for ICT, despite the "death of geography" premise. Therefore, this dissertation has sought to extend the knowledge base on the relationship between ICT, urban environments, and urban planning.