Abstract
The current work models urban growth in the continuous built-up areas of 47 Spanish cities from the mid-nineteenth century through to the present day. We did this by compiling a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) dataset, based on a series of historic maps and aerial images, and then used this to study urban growth and to make spatial comparisons. Our chosen indicator of expansion: population density, was calculated by dividing the total population of each city (based on its municipal area) by its built-up area during each period. Our results revealed four different stages of growth, each of which was characterised by a certain political and economic reality. They showed the clogging up of the walled city, the shaping of the urban ensanches, the maturity of the compact city and the process of metropolisation.
Highlights
The way in which modern cities have evolved has generated an intense debate within the academic community between the models of compact cities and dispersed cities
For the most recent periods, we used the Corine Land Cover (CLC) database created by the European Environment Agency (EEA)
This article proposes a new methodology to quantify the growth of built-up areas over time in order to better understand the evolution of population density in compact cities
Summary
The way in which modern cities have evolved has generated an intense debate within the academic community between the models of compact cities and dispersed cities. The main characteristic of the compact city is its high level of population density. The limits of the urban fabric should be clearly identified in order to provide the best possible measurements of density, instead of using the whole surface of the municipality, as has previously been common practice. This is a complex and time-consuming process, for long-term analyses, in this article, we highlight its interest and show how it can be made feasible
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
