They are the future of configurational modelling of space, where the other key spatial attributes such as metric distance, area, density, plot ratios, shape, political boundaries, and so on can be expressed ad different layers within a single configurational model .
Layered models of urban space
Sources
Hillier, B. (1996, 2007), Space is the Machine: A Configurational Theory of Architecture. Space Syntax: London, UK. pp.104-108