Capturing socio-spatial inequality in planetary urbanisation: A multi-dimensional methodological framework

Abstract

Contemporary planetary urbanisation has resulted in increasingly uneven and ‘hyper-mobile’ socio-spatial development across the globe. Within a ‘new mobilities paradigm’, emerging and highly dynamic social and physical mobilities intersect at multiple scales to amplify the mobilities of particular social actors and spaces, while intensifying the immobility of others. A single method for studying socio-spatial inequalities is insufficient to capture complex mobility interactions across different scales of transformation, yet multi-dimensional methodologies lack sufficient elaboration. Within our original methodological framework, selected methods are integrated and cross-referenced to employ different dimensions of social and physical mobility (commute patterns, spatial accessibility, power relations, everyday practices), at interlinking scales (municipality region, neighbourhood, and architectural). Through a pilot study in Huangyan-Taizhou, China, we demonstrate how methods support one another to reflect how (im)mobilities between and within social groups and spaces interrelate through urbanisation. The findings show that informality generated opportunities and risks for mobility; inequalities have intensified and actors with less resources are excluded from the benefits of transformation. Our methodological approach for socio-spatial inequality presents a framework with potential for adaptation in other global transitional contexts, supporting socio-spatial interventions and policy-making toward more balanced and sustainable mobility interactions with comprehensive empirical evidence. • Planetary urbanisation is charactertised by increasing polarisation. • Multi-dimensional methodologies are crucial in capturing socio-spatial inequalities. • The integrative methodology reflects the interactions between social and physical moblity. • Multiple methods support findings at varying scales and perspectives.