Wider urban zones: use of topology and nighttime satellite images for delimiting urban areas

Abstract In the literature on definition of urban areas, methodological approaches are divided into formalist (aggregation by density thresholds) and functionalist commuting quotas). This paper proposes a mixed approach, in which territorial threshold from lower-level administrative unit is combined with brightness nighttime satellite imagery, intended as proxy variable for functional links. The objective to attain method delimitation be used various States Regions across world an iterative procedure, areas connected topological spaces. represents independent method, compared standards adopted national regional statistics bureaus, allows comparing infrastructural, economic, social data different cities world. Such hence described terms “real” dimension partially correcting bias related adoption perimeters “fact” when local authorities make decisions regarding them.