In 2003-04, Roman Seiler and Daniel Sommer developed the urban simulation of Frauenfeld for a thesis at the technical college in Rapperswil. The effects of a bypass planned for Frauenfeld were researched. This bypass is part of the project F21, which also contains traffic-reduction measures. This simulation recorded the changes in urban development and function that result from such a project. The insights gained will supplement the traffic-related measures in project F21.

The Metropolitan Simulation Game was used for this simulation. This game was programmed for urban developers and people interested in urban development. It was created based on findings about principles of urban growth and uses the same functions as a professional urban simulation.

A city is a complex system. It is very difficult to use conventional means to estimate the effects of planning decisions and measures. This thesis shows the possibilities that urban simulation offers development planning. New findings were discovered about how large-scale projects affect a city.

Using project F21 in Frauenfeld as its model, the simulation generated new bases for function-plan measures. The work showed how function plans can be revised using the results of a simulation.

Figure 2 shows the simulation when the statistically compiled data is introduced. In this step, the bases for the simulation were abstracted. The virtual city model was constructed using the following statistics: the number of residents, the number of those employed in the service sector, business, industry and sales, as well as the infrastructure created by private and public traffic.

Figure 3 is a description of the situation in Frauenfeld. The development potential is concentrated in the center of the city. The greatest development potential can be found in the areas where Rathausplatz square is located and in the vicinity of Holdertor. This development potential encourages the economic success of the functions in the city center.

Figure 4. An increase in traffic causes development potential to disperse throughout the entire urban area, which leads to an economic loss in the center. Depending on whether traffic increases or decreases, this situation alternates with the situation in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the effects of the bypass in project F21, which is planned for the area south of the city center. This urban planning measure causes development potential to shift from the location in the center to the north. This new development area is by comparison less developed. The development potential indicates that real estate investments will generate economic success in this new development area. Because the present-day zoning plan of Frauenfeld does not permit this kind of development, thereby hindering the city’s future economic success, a zone plan change has been proposed for this area.

Figure 6 shows how the future development potential generated by project F21 reacts to an increase in traffic. Through the increase in traffic, development potential will switch from north to east. Please compare this to the situation in Figure 5. This reaction can also be referred to as the pulsating of a city. The development potential in the east is more extensive than in the north. The Frauenfeld zoning plan could handle the economic pressure triggered by the development potential in these areas, which means that an obligatory zone plan change in the east is not necessary.

As a result of project F21, Frauenfeld will acquire two new development areas: one north of the Altstadt and the other east of the Altstadt. But if Frauenfeld uses this new development potential and develops real estate in these new areas, then the center will also profit from it. The future development or increase in a city’s density in accordance with its development potential will optimize the city’s economic development, thereby making urban development and architecture worthwhile.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Figure 5.

Figure 6.