Efficiency vs Resilience in Urban Networks | Henry Heligas

The conference organized by the Faculty of Architecture of the Universidad Francisco Marroquín features Henry Heligas, economist and expert in urban ecosystems, who examines how graph theory and network analysis have influenced urbanism and architecture. Through historical examples and mathematical models, he explains why cities should be understood as interconnected systems involving infrastructure, people, and institutions. From an interdisciplinary perspective, the conference demonstrates how urban design can apply concepts from mathematics and economics. These ideas contribute to more sustainable environments and promote resilient urban design strategies. At the outset, Heligas traces the origins of graph theory to Leonhard Euler’s study of Königsberg and the problem of crossing the city’s seven bridges without repetition. By representing the city through nodes and edges, Euler established principles that became fundamental to network analysis. According to the speaker, this mathematical framework emerged from an urban challenge. The conference also shows how history has shaped urban understanding, while innovation continues influencing the built environment. “We can say, because there are exactly two nodes of odd degree, that the Euler walk is possible. However, a circuit, which would be starting and completing the journey from the same node in a complete cycle, is impossible because, in order for that to happen, there would have to be nodes all of even degree in the system”. — Henry Heligas Building upon these foundations, Heligas explains how complex networks can produce unexpected effects and deepen the analysis of urban systems. He emphasizes that cities cannot be viewed as isolated components because infrastructure and human behavior constantly interact. The conference also introduces concepts that reveal hidden aspects of urban organization and contribute to better urban planning. This discussion highlights the importance of spatial research for understanding the evolution of cities. Heligas then examines Braess’s paradox, a concept derived from game theory and its implications for contemporary urbanism. He explains how adding infrastructure may unexpectedly increase travel times instead of reducing them, affecting patterns of mobility. Through the idea of Nash equilibrium, he shows that individual decisions do not always improve collective outcomes. These observations underline the role of economics in understanding complex systems. “Before, the average commute time was around 30 minutes, or just under 30 minutes. Now, with the addition of new infrastructure, everyone actually has a longer commute time; it is increased by just over 2 minutes”. — Henry Heligas The conference then turns to Chicago and the urban fragmentation created by twentieth-century infrastructure. Focusing on Bronzeville, Heligas explains how transportation networks favored suburban accessibility while isolating local communities. He argues that infrastructure should not be evaluated only through efficiency, since identity and collective memory are also essential to urban culture. This reflection encourages social development and strengthens resilient communities. These ideas reinforce the role of local communities in shaping inclusive cities. Educational systems and their relationship to urban networks are another key focus of the conference. Heligas explains how demographic information and transportation hierarchies can be combined to create accessibility models. These methods help identify where school investments can strengthen connectivity and engagement through spatial mapping. As a result, the conference emphasizes the value of education in public decision-making. “Schools themselves are cities, and so, if a city is a network and a school is a city, then schools themselves have to be sort of networks”. — Henry Heligas Furthermore, the speaker presents gravity models as tools for evaluating accessibility across neighborhoods and schools. By considering factors such as enrollment and transportation, these models support urban assessment aimed at determining where resources can have the greatest impact. Heligas advocates approaches that encourage reciprocity and stronger social connections. In doing so, the conference illustrates the contributions of interdisciplinary science and public policy to urban challenges. Toward the conclusion, Heligas challenges the idea of schools as isolated buildings. Inspired by Herman Hertzberger, he proposes understanding educational institutions as networks within larger urban ecosystems, an approach linked to architectural theory. This perspective encourages resilient learners capable of interacting with the city in a dynamic environment. Civic leadership also becomes relevant in shaping collective responses. Human creativity remains essential for future urban growth. To explore related topics concerning ecosystems and prosperity, New Media UFM recommends Building High-Performance Entrepreneurial Economies | Ted Zoller, organized by the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the Universidad Francisco Marroquín. In this conference, entrepreneur and professor Ted Zoller examines how entrepreneurial ecosystems emerge through collaboration and institutional interaction. His analysis offers complementary insights into interconnected systems, promotes entrepreneurship, and shows how stronger markets can support lasting prosperity. Discover more content on http://www.newmedia.ufm.edu Organized by: Facultad de Arquitectura https://arquitectura.ufm.edu/ A production by UFM Studios http://newmedia.ufm.edu Follow us on social media Facebook @ufmvideos Twitter @newmediaufm Facebook @UFMArquitectura | @UFMDesign Instagram @ufmdesign