Statistical Perspectives on Urban Inequality: A Systematic Review of GIS-Based Methodologies and Applications

TL;DR

This systematic review analyzes GIS-based statistical methodologies used in urban inequality research, highlighting key themes, recent advances, and methodological challenges to guide future interdisciplinary efforts and policy applications.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive synthesis of 201 studies, identifying key thematic domains, methodological trends, and gaps in GIS-based urban inequality research since 1996.

Findings

Accessibility is the primary focus in studies.

Expansion to include environmental justice and health vulnerability.

Methodological issues include geographic concentration and limited longitudinal analysis.

Abstract

Urban inequality, as reflected by uneven spatial allocations of resources, services, and opportunities, has arisen as a major topic for quantitative research and policy intervention. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide a solid framework for quantifying, analyzing, and visualizing these disparities; nevertheless, the many statistical approaches used in different studies have not been completely pooled. This analysis looks at 201 peer-reviewed articles published between 1996 and 2024, obtained from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, that use GIS-based approaches to investigate intra-urban differences. Eligibility was limited to English-language, peer-reviewed research that focused on urban settings, with the screening technique following the PRISMA methodology. The review identifies five key theme domains: accessibility, green space, health-related disparity, socioeconomic status, and open space provision. In the literature, statistical and network-based approaches, such as spatial clustering, regression analysis, and bibliometric mapping, are critical for identifying patterns and driving thematic synthesis. Although accessibility remains the core focus, the subject has expanded to include a variety of indicators such as environmental justice and health vulnerability, aided by advances in data sources and spatial analytics. Ongoing methodological issues include spatial concentration in industrialized countries and the limited use of longitudinal or composite measurements. The report concludes by outlining research priorities and practical recommendations for improving statistical rigor, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, and assuring policy relevance in GIS-based urban inequality studies.