Table 1 Characteristics of pertinent rules.

Thematic fit

Consideration of the rules concerning land use, natural risk management and their regulations

Example of a thematic rule: “Les constructions destinées à l’habitation sont admises…” (“Constructions intended for habitation are permitted…”) Example of a rule out of the scope of the study: “Les volets doivent être réalisés en bois peint.” (“The shutters must be made of painted wood.”)

Spatio-temporal adequacy

Only regulations respecting research sites for a chosen period are considered

Example of data respecting research sites: “Règlement zone N à Montpellier” (“Regulation zone N in Montpellier”) Example of data outside the research sites: “Règlement zone UA du PLU de Montpellier” (“UA zone regulation of the PLU of Montpellier”)

Rule observability

The application of the rules must be verifiable by satellite images

Example of an observable rule: “Sont interdit: toute nouvelle construction, sauf l’extension des bâtiments existants.” (“Prohibited: any new construction, except for the extension of existing buildings.”) Example of a non observable rule: “Les arbres de hautes tiges existants et les masses végétales significatives, doivent être maintenus…” (“Existing tall trees and significant plant masses should be maintained…”)

Explicit data

The rules must be unambiguous. All the elements necessary for their use must be present (i.e. no reference to other documents). References to another paragraph or a chapter of the same document are considered explicit

Example of an explicit rule: “Tous travaux, de quelque nature qu’ils soient, à l’exception de ceux visés au paragraphe ci-dessous…” (“All works of any nature except of those specified in the paragraph below…”) Example of a non explicit rule: “Sont admis: les changements de destination […] dans l’emprise existante des bâtiments repérés sur les documents graphiques du règlement au titre de l’article L. 15111 du code de l’urbanisme” (“Allowed: changes of destination […] in the existing footprint of the buildings identified on the graphic documents of the regulations under article L. 15111 of the town planning code.”)

Text data

Consideration of textual rules only (e.g. diagrams are not considered due to the difficulty of their processing)

Example of textual data taken into account: “Sont admis: les constructions à usage d’habitation…” (“Are admitted: constructions for residential use…”) Example of a rule not taken into account: Rule concerning easements identified on the plan (which is present in a figure)