Urban morphology and peripheral growth in Brazilian Intermediate Cities: geotechnologies and methodological innovations applied to Montes Claros, Minas Gerais

Abstract Integrated analysis of urban morphology and functional characteristics allows for a better understanding of the structure and intra-urban dynamics of intermediate cities, indicating a series of elements that demonstrate associations between intra-urban space and the intensity and quality of the relationship of a given centrality with its surroundings. Based on the case study of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, we present a methodological proposal for evaluating morphological and functional aspects of intermediate cities using information from the Demographic Census and other free geospatial datasets (i.e. digital terrain model and satellite images). We identified the spatial distribution of the types of occupation, such as (a) density of residential type buildings, (b) trade and services and (c) under construction. Furthermore, we quantified and evaluated the characteristics (income and age structure) of the expansion vectors of Montes Claros. In Montes Claros, we identified the formation of less developed intra-urban centralities compared to other development hubs in Minas Gerais (Juiz de Fora, Uberlândia, Pouso Alegre, among others). In the city, the concentration of functions in two centralities (the main center and the most prominent subcenter) increases socio-spatial segregation, given the absence of important centralities close to areas with the greatest peripheral growth between 2000 and 2010.

摘要 对城市形态学（urban morphology）与功能特征开展综合分析，可更深入地认知中等城市（intermediate cities）的空间结构与内部动态（intra-urban dynamics）机制，并可揭示一系列关联要素，阐明城市内部空间与特定中心性区域（centrality）及其周边环境之间关联的强度与质量。本研究以米纳斯吉拉斯州（Minas Gerais）的蒙蒂斯克拉鲁斯（Montes Claros）为研究案例，基于人口普查（Demographic Census）数据及其他免费地理空间数据集（geospatial datasets，即数字地形模型（digital terrain model）与卫星影像），提出一套用于评估中等城市形态与功能特征的方法论方案。本研究识别了各类用地类型的空间分布特征，具体包括：(a) 住宅类建筑密度、(b) 商贸与服务业用地分布、(c) 在建工程用地分布。此外，本研究对蒙蒂斯克拉鲁斯市城市扩张带的特征（收入水平与年龄结构）进行了量化与评估。相较于米纳斯吉拉斯州内的其他发展枢纽（development hubs，茹伊斯迪福拉（Juiz de Fora）、乌贝兰迪亚（Uberlândia）、波苏阿莱格里（Pouso Alegre）等），本研究发现蒙蒂斯克拉鲁斯市存在发育程度较低的城市内部中心性区域。在该市范围内，城市功能向两大中心区域（主中心与最具影响力的次级中心）集中的格局加剧了社会空间分异（socio-spatial segregation）——究其原因，2000至2010年间城市外围扩张（peripheral growth）最显著的区域附近，并未布局重要的城市中心性区域。