Characterizing landscape patterns in urban-rural interfaces

摘要: Abstract Due to new urbanization patterns, where cities’ edges are becoming increasingly difficult delimit, a better understanding of urban-rural gradients has become key issue for urban planning. These interstitial territories characterized being highly heterogeneous, with hybrid and complex dynamics -due their landscape ambiguity rapid transformation-frequently lack clear regulations. Through calculation analysis metrics in high resolution satellite images, this study proposes novel accurate method identify patterns. It was applied the gradient Metropolitan District Quito (MDQ), an Andean city. After analyzing five land use/land covers six transects, results suggest that MDQ presents patterns diffusion coalescence. The starts at core expand rural parishes some emerging traditional settlements merge, constituting pattern urbanization. Also, significant levels fragmentation were identified vegetation cover periurban areas, threatening territory environmental sustainability. Finally, multivariate cluster developed, evidencing main tendencies This knowledge can be particularly useful planning terms reducing randomness development processes. paper tests analytical approach which could other Latin-American cities, expansion remain unknown.