Unraveling latent dimensions of the urban mosaic: A multi-criteria spatial approach to metropolitan transformations
通过分析雅典124个空间指标，识别出影响城市演化的六个维度（人口集中、蔓延、社会隔离、收入增长、商业/零售/物流专业化及工业衰退），并利用聚类分析揭示大都市区等级结构，为城市规划和可持续发展提供参考。
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.