ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes to remedy the aforementioned lack of a global and dynamic view by an analysis of combined maritime traffic and urban population data. Much has been said about the evolution of port cities, from the perspectives of planners, architects, sociologists, economists, historians, and geographers alike, especially in terms of changing urban landscape, port morphology, and other interactions between port and city. Although the definition of the port city concept itself has remained blurred, most studies converged around the idea that large cities will ultimately get rid of their port activity so as to diversify their economy, prevent their citizens from environmental degradation, be more creative and knowledge-based. The empirical investigations of port-city evolution remained focused on specific places and projects, at the level of the urban waterfront. Various forms of waterfront redevelopment strategies have emerged since the 1950s to value the city's maritime culture and atmosphere for other uses than cargo handling operations and related industries.
