Shades of urbanity: lost in diverging statistical definitions

Abstract

Metropolitan landscapes typically are patchworks of urban land use and open space. What seems to be straightforward for an observer appears to be ambiguous for researchers seeking fixed criteria. Pinning down urbanity is scale-dependent and culture-dependent. In fact, statistical definitions on urbanity that take inhabitants per hectare as a measure vary widely across countries. Applying definitions from abroad result in maps in which people don¿t recognise their own country any more.
Where does this leave us when we study the sustainability of urban networks? This paper explores the linkages between human perception and statistical expression by comparing definitions across nations and conceptualisating meaning-giving related to geography.