Methodology for evaluation of the socio-spatial impacts of urban expansion: a case study in the city of Campina Grande-PB

Abstract

In recent decades, Brazil has experienced a major process of urbanization and growth of its cities, often organic and disorderly, with direct interference in many sectors of society. This work aims to propose a methodology for evaluating the socio-spatial impacts of urban expansion in a city, based on four main stages: Delimitation of the study area; Social characterization; Spatial characterization; Socio-spatial analysis. Therefore, it is proposed the integrated use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) as a tool to support the process of producing maps and spatial analysis. The methodology was tested through a case study applied to the city of Campina Grande, in the state of Paraíba, and with the support of the GIS, a socio-spatial analysis of its urban growth was carried out. The results revealed that urban sprawl, associated with a condition of idle space, is directly related to social vulnerability. They also showed that the city of Campina Grande has few neighborhoods with situations of high or very high vulnerability, and that these neighborhoods must have, by the municipalities, a more effective control of urban growth, in order to prevent a disorderly expansion, a phenomenon that has already been observed.