Spatially conditioned dynamics between population and built form

TL;DR

This paper presents a scalable, spatially explicit framework to analyze how population characteristics relate to built environment features at local levels, revealing spatial heterogeneity and social selectivity in Czechia.

Contribution

It introduces a novel methodology combining fine-grained built environment classification with geographically weighted models to quantify socio-spatial dynamics.

Findings

Population-builtenvironment relationships are spatially heterogeneous.

Some built form types are more socially selective.

Spatial heterogeneity influences socio-spatial inequalities.

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between population and the built environment is essential for addresing socio-spatial inequalities. While researchers have long theorized these dynamics, empirical analyses remain limited. This study develops a scalable, spatially explicit framework to quantify the relationship between population and the built environment at the scale of local census tracts in Czechia. The approach integrates a fine-grained classification of the built environment with a comprehensive set of socio-demographic indicators. The methodology is structured to capture the overall strength and spatial variability of the relationship between the population and the built environment, in order to identify how built form and spatial distribution can reinforce or limit socio-spatial differentiation, using geographically weighted classification models. The results of the study show that population characteristics exhibit linear, spatially conditioned relationships with built form, emphasizing that spatial heterogeneity must be accounted for when assessing these relationships. The analysis of the relationship strength also reveals that some built form types are more socially selective than others, underscoring the importance of built form in reproducing social-spatial inequalities.