Exploring intra-urban typologies in João Pessoa, Paraíba

implications for the municipal Master Plan

Abstract

Latin American cities are marked by processes of socio-spatial fragmentation, which manifest themselves in their urban fabric, generating different morphological patterns. Several studies have already pointed out the effectiveness of lacunarity and habitability in distinguishing these patterns in the city, the first has proven to be sensitive in recognizing different concentrations of urban open spaces, and the second, of population and household conditions. These measures use remote sensing images and census data, obtained widely and free of charge. The use of algorithms, aided by geoprocessing software, has spread the application of methodologies that associate this data with each other. The city of João Pessoa, located in the state of Paraíba (Brazil), presents the particularity of a complex urban fabric, whose morphological patterns are the result of interaction with the Atlantic Forest in an extensive coastal strip, in addition to humid and mangrove areas. The crossing of lacunarity and habitability measures generated nine classes of intra-urban typologies, which are distinguished from each other by socio-spatial pattern. By relating these classes to the Master Plan zones, this research contributes to urban planning by applying an alternative method of physical-territorial reading.