IDENTIFYING CENTERS AND SUBCENTERS IN THE METROPOLITAN REGION OF BELO HORIZONTE THROUGH GOOGLE PLACES OF INTEREST

Abstract This research provides novel exploration of the distribution of urban facilities in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, to identify primary and secondary centralities. The main findings are based on a Kernel Density, using Google Places of Interest data. Primary and secondary metropolitan centers are detected in the largest municipalities in the Metropolitan Area, as well as smaller suburban subcenters in peripheral municipalities. Moreover, the analysis of five categories of facilities illustrates different centralities structures and inequalities in the distribution of different types of activities.