Unraveling latent dimensions of the urban mosaic. A multi-criteria spatial approach to metropolitan transformations

We investigated local-scale urban profiles by analysing the spatial structure of 124 territorial indicators to identify possibly relevant dimensions influencing urban evolution and promoting socioeconomic transformation. To assess patterns and processes of urban expansion, Athens (Greece) was taken as a prototype of metropolitan systems with a diversified morphology and entropic functions. Exploratory spatial data analysis identified six dimensions of urban evolution: population concentration, sprawl, social segregation, income growth, specialization in commerce/ retail/logistics and industrial decline. Urban centres were profiled according to the dominant dimension(s). Cluster analysis identified the urban hierarchy in the Athens metropolitan region based on population density, highlighting more subtle gradients associated with settlement morphology, social diversification, local development and economic performance. The proposed methodology stems from the ‘factorial ecology’ approach, providing a coherent overview of the recent transformations that impact dimensions of urban sustainability.